Two arrests have been made amid an ongoing investigation into a fire at a former asylum hotel in Folkestone.
Kent Police confirmed a 38-year-old man and 21-year-old woman were detained after a blaze engulfed the Grand Burstin Hotel on Saturday.
The fire broke out at the accommodation along Marine Parade in the early hours of Saturday morning at around 1.05am, leading the mass evacuation of 280 people.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council confirmed a group of 90 were relocated from Pavilion Court in Marine Terrance after concerns were raised by safety inspectors.
Plumes of dark smoke could be seen billowing out of the hotel’s car park as terrified guests looked on at the blaze.
Around 26 fire engines were deployed to the scene to tackle the inferno – well into Saturday evening.
The pair who were arrested have been released while police investigations continue.
Kent Police confirmed they believe the fire was started deliberately and were appealing for witnesses.
The fire broke out at the accommodation along Marine Parade
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Kent Fire & Rescue Service station manager Lawrence Pater said the “very severe” fire raised concerns about the building’s structural integrity, and inspectors were being consulted.
The council said: “We are supporting all emergency services involved in the response and their efforts to get people to safety.”
“Crews wearing breathing apparatus have worked hard to bring the fire under control and are now dampening down any remaining hotspots,” the ambulance service said on Saturday evening.
A spokesman for Britannia Hotels Group, which runs the Grand Burstin Hotel, said it was “taking immediate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all guests and team members”.
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Around 26 fire engines were deployed to the scene
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“Emergency services are on site and we are fully cooperating with the authorities to support those affected and assist with the ongoing response”, he added.
Britannia Group is said to have accepted block-bookings for asylum seekers in at least 17 of its hotels across the UK.
Back in 2014, The Grand Burstin was used to house a group of around 130 asylum seekers to reduce overcrowding in a London hotel.
The accommodation set-up, however, was only temporary as the group was moved on a few months later.
The council’s housing team is currently working to set up alternative accommodation for affected residents.
The hotel will undergo several further assessments and any required works to ensure it remains safe for use.
There has been an outpouring of support for the emergency services working to support those affected.
“The extent of support of organisations including Three Hills, Morrisons and the Salvation Army has been amazing and helped to ensure that visitors and residents were looked after, supported and had food and hot drinks,” Susan Priest, the authroity’s chief executive said.
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