RTS Reports: Locked Door at Swiss Bar Linked to 40 Fire Fatalities

A tragic incident unfolded at a Swiss bar on New Year’s Eve, where a fire claimed the lives of 40 individuals. Reports indicate that a service door, which could have provided a second escape route, was locked during the fire. This information was revealed by one of the bar’s managers to Swiss prosecutors, as reported by national broadcaster RTS.

The co-owner of the bar, located in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, recounted his harrowing experience of attempting to unblock one of the ground floor doors from the outside, only to discover bodies behind it. For further details, you can read the full report by RTS here.

In addition to the locked door, the manager had reportedly purchased sound-proofing foam from a hardware store, which he installed on the bar’s ceilings. Investigators believe that the fire was ignited by sparklers held in champagne bottles, which subsequently set the highly flammable foam ablaze.

Read more: Fire Safety Inspections Lapsed for Years at Swiss Bar Where 40 Died in New Year’s Blaze

As the investigation unfolds, the couple who owned the bar are facing scrutiny for alleged fire safety violations. Prosecutors have indicated that potential charges could include homicide and bodily injury by negligence. Following questioning, the male co-owner was arrested, as authorities deemed him a flight risk.

A court has since ordered that he be detained for three months, although it remains open to alternative measures proposed by prosecutors, such as a bail payment. The court emphasized that “pretrial detention is a procedural measure intended solely to ensure the proper conduct of the investigation,” underscoring that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation has also highlighted failures on the part of local authorities. The mayor of Crans-Montana admitted that the bar had not undergone a fire safety inspection since 2019, despite local laws mandating regular checks by the municipality.

Among the victims were many teenagers, with the youngest being just 14 years old. Additionally, some of the more than 100 individuals injured in the fire are still receiving treatment in hospitals across Europe.

Photograph: Messages and flowers at a memorial in front of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Jan. 9, 2025; photo credit: Maxime Schmid/AFP/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

A tragic incident unfolded at a Swiss bar on New Year’s Eve, where a fire claimed the lives of 40 individuals. Reports indicate that a service door, which could have provided a second escape route, was locked during the fire. This information was revealed by one of the bar’s managers to Swiss prosecutors, as reported by national broadcaster RTS.

The co-owner of the bar, located in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, recounted his harrowing experience of attempting to unblock one of the ground floor doors from the outside, only to discover bodies behind it. For further details, you can read the full report by RTS here.

In addition to the locked door, the manager had reportedly purchased sound-proofing foam from a hardware store, which he installed on the bar’s ceilings. Investigators believe that the fire was ignited by sparklers held in champagne bottles, which subsequently set the highly flammable foam ablaze.

Read more: Fire Safety Inspections Lapsed for Years at Swiss Bar Where 40 Died in New Year’s Blaze

As the investigation unfolds, the couple who owned the bar are facing scrutiny for alleged fire safety violations. Prosecutors have indicated that potential charges could include homicide and bodily injury by negligence. Following questioning, the male co-owner was arrested, as authorities deemed him a flight risk.

A court has since ordered that he be detained for three months, although it remains open to alternative measures proposed by prosecutors, such as a bail payment. The court emphasized that “pretrial detention is a procedural measure intended solely to ensure the proper conduct of the investigation,” underscoring that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation has also highlighted failures on the part of local authorities. The mayor of Crans-Montana admitted that the bar had not undergone a fire safety inspection since 2019, despite local laws mandating regular checks by the municipality.

Among the victims were many teenagers, with the youngest being just 14 years old. Additionally, some of the more than 100 individuals injured in the fire are still receiving treatment in hospitals across Europe.

Photograph: Messages and flowers at a memorial in front of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Jan. 9, 2025; photo credit: Maxime Schmid/AFP/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.