In the bar Le Constellation in the Swiss ski resort Crans Montanawhere on New Year’s Eve 40 people died in a firethere have been no fire safety inspections for years. This was announced by the president of the local council, Nicolas Féraud. Accordingly, there were no checks there between 2020 and 2025. Last year, only one acoustic report was carried out without any complaints. “We deeply regret this,” Féraud said. There was no evidence that no controls were carried out in these years.
According to him, the insulation material on the ceiling was never an issue during inspections in 2019 and previous years. During the last fire safety inspection in 2019, no defects were found in the bar.
Bar operator wants to cooperate with authorities
The fire started when the foam material was ignited by sparks from sparklers attached to champagne bottles; the fire spread within seconds. In addition to 40 deaths, 119 people were injured in the accident, most of them seriously, many of whom are being treated abroad.
Against the operators of the bar is currently being investigated for negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson. In addition, the operating couple’s operating license for a second restaurant in Crans-Montana was revoked, Féraud said. Fire safety experts had previously questioned whether the bar had enough emergency exits and whether the insulation material on the ceiling met legal requirements. The news portal 20 minutes quoted the operator as saying it would do “everything in our power” to support the investigation.
Many restaurants voluntarily want to forego pyrotechnics
As an immediate measure, the municipality also decided to ban the use of pyrotechnic items in closed rooms. Fire protection precautions are now being examined in Swiss ski resortsfor example in Adelboden and Lauterbrunnen in the run-up to the Ski World Cup races next weekend.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin referred to reports on SRF that many local operators outside of Crans-Montana had already decided not to use pyrotechnics indoors in the future. The government does not have to decide on an official ban, “but I believe that the necessary lessons will be learned at the appropriate time,” said Parmelin.
