Deadly New Year’s Blaze at Swiss Ski-Resort Bar Tied to Champagne Sparklers

A fast-moving fire at Le Constellation, a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, killed 40 people and injured 119 during a New Year’s celebration, Swiss authorities said. The blaze broke out around 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Video and survivor interviews indicate sparklers placed on champagne bottles and held too close to the ceiling probably ignited the fire, the regional prosecutor said.

Authorities said one or two explosions were likely caused by a flashover, in which all combustible material in a room ignites nearly simultaneously and the fire becomes an inferno. Investigators are examining the bar’s construction materials, soundproofing foam, fire safety measures, emergency exits, capacity and licensing to determine how the disaster unfolded and whether negligence played a role.

Regulars said the bar’s lower floor had only one exit. Survivors described panic and severe burns as people tried to flee. The injured included 71 Swiss nationals, 14 from France and 11 from Italy, with others from Serbia, Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal. Many victims were young and identification has been difficult because of the severity of injuries and lack of ID on some patients.

Regional medical facilities were overwhelmed; badly burned patients were transferred to hospitals in other Swiss cities and to neighboring countries. Authorities warned that identifying the dead could take days or weeks. Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced a period of national mourning.

Key Topics

Sports, United States, World, Switzerland, Fire, Ski Resort, Crans-montana