> At a Glance
> – Fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana killed 40 and injured 116 on New Year’s Day
> – No fire-safety inspections between 2020 and 2025, municipality admits
> – Bar managers under criminal investigation for involuntary homicide and causing the blaze
> – Why it matters: Lax oversight may have turned a festive night into Switzerland’s deadliest bar fire in decades
A New Year’s party turned tragic when sparkling candles on Champagne bottles ignited ceiling panels at Le Constellation, exposing a five-year gap in fire inspections that local officials now say they “bitterly regret.”
What Ignited the Tragedy
Investigators believe the candles burned too close to the ceiling, triggering a fast-moving blaze. They are testing whether the soundproofing material met safety rules and if the candles were legal for indoor use.
- Time of fire: ~1:30 a.m. on 1 January
- Victims identified: 40 dead, 116 injured from multiple countries
- Youngest French victim: 14 years old (nine French nationals died, 23 hurt)
Accountability Gap
Swiss authorities have opened a criminal probe into the two bar managers, citing:
- Involuntary homicide
- Involuntary bodily harm
- Involuntary arson
Crans-Montana’s municipal chief Nicolas Féraud revealed that while inspections occurred in 2016, 2018, 2019, none took place from 2020-2025. He could not explain the lapse.
> “We regret this bitterly. Periodic checks were not carried out between 2020 and 2025.”
> – Nicolas Féraud, Head of Crans-Montana Municipal Government
Records show the bar had a maximum capacity of 100 on the ground floor and 100 in the basement, but investigators may never know the exact headcount that night.
Immediate Fallout
The municipality has now:
- Banned indoor fireworks
- Hired an external agency to audit nightlife venues
An external expert had judged the bar’s soundproofing compliant with anti-noise rules in September 2024, without flagging fire-risk issues.
| Inspection Year | Fire Safety Check | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ✓ | Modifications requested |
| 2018 | ✓ | No soundproofing issues |
| 2019 | ✓ | No soundproofing issues |
| 2020-2025 | None | Gap acknowledged |
Key Takeaways
- 40 people dead, 116 injured in Switzerland’s worst bar fire in years
- No fire inspections for five years despite legal obligation
- Bar managers face criminal charges over involuntary homicide
- Municipality shifts blame to judicial review for determining impact
The revelation of missed inspections has intensified scrutiny on local oversight as grieving families await answers.
