Salvation Army supports hundreds after Folkestone hotel fire

The Salvation Army was among emergency response orgnisations to support  residents evacuated following a hotel fire in Folkestone, while also supporting firefighters tackling the blaze.

Salvation Army teams were called in the early hours of Saturday morning following the fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel, which started late on Friday night.

The church and charity deployed its Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) to support emergency services while officers and volunteers helped hundreds of evacuees at the rest centre at Three Hills.

At the height of the incident, 26 fire appliances from Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London were in attendance.

Major Iain Stewart, The Salvation Army’s leader in Folkestone, received a call at around 5.25am and spent much of the next 19 hours supporting people affected by the emergency.

Around 280 people were brought to the rest centre.

Iain said: “People were facing so much uncertainty about what would happen next. Some had important possessions still in the hotel, some had lost vehicles and for some people the hotel was their home.

“There were immediate practical needs too. We were providing drinks and blankets, finding wheelchairs for people who needed them and helping people contact family to let them know they were safe.”

The Salvation Army worked alongside Folkestone and Hythe District Council, hotel staff and other organisations as temporary accommodation and onward transport were arranged. 

By late afternoon, the initial evacuees had been moved on, but later a further call came through after residents of a neighbouring building also needed to leave their homes.

The Salvation Army again responded, calling on volunteers and sourcing transport, including a minibus, to help people reach alternative accommodation. Iain remained involved until around midnight.

He said: “One of the blessings of The Salvation Army is that we have a capacity that other people might not have. We can call on people and resources, and people will drop what they’re doing and come out to help.

At the scene, The Salvation Army’s ERV provided hot food and drinks to firefighters and other emergency personnel, with volunteers getting through nearly 10kg of bacon for sandwiches during the shift.

Rob Saunders, Emergency Response Coordinator for the South East Divison, received the initial call and said: “When we turn up there’s often a cheer because everyone knows they can finally get a bit of a rest and a break.

“Some of the firefighters had already been working incredibly hard for hours. Giving them something to eat and drink and the chance to stop for a few minutes means they can refuel and go back out to carry on doing their job.”

Rob’s day took an unexpected turn when he discovered two Danish visitors evacuated from the hotel were due to attend a wedding that afternoon – the same one he was due to attend.

After locating them at the rest centre, he reassured their worried relatives they were safe and helped ensure they got to the wedding despite having been evacuated without their belongings.

During the reception, Rob received news that most of their luggage had been recovered. 

Rob said: “They were very upset because they didn’t have any clothes to change into or any of their things. I told their family not to worry and that I’d make sure they got to the wedding.

“Later I got a message to say their belongings had been recovered, so I went to collect them and brought them back. It was a bit of a miracle really.”

Adrian Clee, The Salvation Army’s Territorial Emergency Response Officer, said: “This was a very significant incident where The Salvation Army was asked to play a pivotal part.

“Our teams supported the emergency services at the fire itself while also helping people who had suddenly been evacuated and were facing a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty.

“The Salvation Army’s South East Division, with its major ports and other key national infrastructure, has once again stepped up to support the local community at a time of crisis.”