The fire occurred during the night at a three-story homeless hostel in Kamień Pomorski (West Pomeranian Voivodeship), a town situated approximately 60 kilometres or 37 miles from the German border.

[2][3] It was Poland's deadliest fire since a conflagration [pl] destroyed a home for the mentally ill in Górna Grupa in 1980 claiming the lives of 55 victims.

[2] It was a three-story structure originally built as one-story in the early 1970s; two stories made of highly flammable materials were added later.

[2] Images broadcast on television showed "huge flames reaching high into the sky above the roof"[3] and the "charred, gutted shell" of the hostel.

[2] The death toll was first announced as 21, but two persons were still missing – due to the way the building was evacuated and witness testimonies saying they were seen leaving during the fire it was unclear whether they had escaped.

[2][4][11][14] The country's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, who was on an Easter holiday like many of the victims,[10] flew to Kamień Pomorski, promising new housing and aid for the survivors.