Safety Lapses Blamed for Deadly New Year’s Fire at Swiss Bar

A fire that tore through the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day killed at least 40 people and was likely aggravated by a series of avoidable safety failures, experts and witnesses say. Investigators have not issued a final account, but regional prosecutors said sparklers brought out by waiters probably ignited the ceiling around 1:30 a.m., and visual evidence shows sparklers were held close to the roof.

Fire experts pointed to combustible foam insulation covering much of the ceiling — likely open-cell polyurethane — which can burn rapidly, melt and drip burning droplets that spread flames. Survivors described a crowded basement and a narrow staircase that became a choke point; though officials said there was a second emergency door, witnesses said they saw only the stairs and some people had to break windows to escape.

Authorities opened an investigation of the bar’s two managers on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence. The owners, a French couple named Jacques and Jessica Moretti, opened the bar in 2015; they said they are cooperating and denied wrongdoing but did not respond to requests for comment.

Questions remain about building inspections: local officials said no fire-safety issues had been reported to the canton, but could not confirm how often inspections were carried out.

Key Topics

World, Le Constellation, Crans-montana, Jacques Moretti, Jessica Moretti, Open-cell Polyurethane