The government of the Swiss canton of Valais assumes that the fire occurred in a bar in Crans Montana a so-called flashover could have occurred. “On New Year’s Eve from December 31st to January 1st, 2026, a flashover occurred in the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana as a result of a fire, which resulted in one or more explosions and caused numerous deaths and injuries,” said the statement from the State Council, the canton’s government. A source for this theory was not named.
Investigating prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud later said the entire room caught fire and that led to an explosion. So far there is no reliable information about the cause of the fire. But the flashover theory could explain why so many people died in the fire and were unable to escape.
A fire roller that sets everything on fire at the same time
During a flashover, a fire suddenly goes from the initial phase to the full-blown phase. The fire protection expert Sandra Barz explained the phenomenon on ARD Brennpunkt as follows: Heat accumulates under the ceiling and this heat build-up becomes hotter and hotter. All combustible materials in the affected room would then eventually chemically decompose and form certain gases. “With the right mixing ratio and at ever-increasing temperatures, this is a flash-through, a fire roller that sets everything on fire at the same time, without it being touched by a flame,” said Barz.
In a short time, the temperature rises to around 1,000 to 1,200 degrees. In addition, the oxygen content falls to below four percent. This is a difficult situation even for firefighters. It is impossible for people without protective clothing to survive.
This article will continue to be updated.
