// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Major seaside hotel fire treated as suspicious
A seaside hotel in Folkestone has been evacuated after a fire in the early hours
A fire at a seaside hotel where about 280 people were evacuated is believed to have been caused deliberately, police have said.
A total of 26 fire engines were sent to the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone at about 01:05 BST on Saturday, Kent Fire & Rescue Service said.
Kent Police said that the fire was being treated as suspicious and is appealing for witnesses.
"Inquiries into the circumstances are under way," police said.
Kent Police is appealing for witnesses to the hotel fire
In an update at 20:35, the fire service said that three fire engines and a height vehicle remained in attendance, and firefighting operations were ongoing.
Crews will stay in attendance overnight to monitor and extinguish any remaining hotspots, it said.
"An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone, which is being treated as suspicious," a fire service spokesperson said.
Station manager Lawrence Pater said the "very severe" fire had raised concerns about the structural integrity of the building, and that it was seeking advice from inspectors.