A New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, resulted in 40 fatalities and 116 injuries. Investigations have revealed that the establishment had not undergone required annual safety inspections for five years prior to the incident, leading to an acknowledgement of responsibility by the local mayor and subsequent legal proceedings against the bar's managers.
Incident Details
The fire, which occurred on New Year's Eve, caused 40 deaths and 116 injuries. Prosecutors have attributed the origin of the fire to sparklers attached to champagne bottles, which ignited sound-insulating foam located on the ceiling of the establishment.
Inspection Lapses Uncovered
Authorities confirmed that Le Constellation bar had not undergone required annual safety inspections for five years prior to the incident, specifically since 2019. Mayor Nicolas Feraud of Crans-Montana addressed the press, acknowledging the extended period without safety checks and accepting responsibility for the lapse. He stated he became aware of this oversight after the fire and did not provide an explanation for the duration since the last inspection.
Romain Jordan, representing some of the victims' families, has called for an investigation into the municipality regarding these inspection lapses. Reports indicate that out of 128 bars and restaurants in Crans-Montana, only 40 had undergone inspections in 2025, according to one source. Mayor Feraud suggested that a lack of inspectors contributed to the oversight, a concern echoed by Romy Biner, Mayor of Zermatt, regarding insufficient resources for premises inspections in the Valais canton.
Regulatory Responses and Legal Proceedings
In response to the incident, sparklers, identified as the suspected cause of the fire, will be prohibited in local establishments. Crans-Montana local authorities have also announced plans to engage an external contractor to conduct inspections and audits of all 128 venues within the area.
The bar's two managers, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are currently under criminal investigation. They face suspected charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. The managers have publicly stated their cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Victims and Broader Scrutiny
Among those who died, eight individuals were under the age of 16. Many of the injured sustained severe burns and are receiving medical treatment in Switzerland and other European countries. Funerals for some of the deceased have commenced.
The incident has drawn public scrutiny towards Switzerland's decentralized government system and local accountability mechanisms. Swiss journalists have raised questions regarding the mayor's relationship with the bar owners and the possibility of corruption, which Mayor Feraud denied. Families affected by the fire have also called for transparent answers from authorities.