Years Without Fire Safety Inspections at Swiss Bar Linked to New Year’s Blaze That Claimed 40 Lives
Investigators believe that the tragic fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana was ignited by sparkling candles placed atop Champagne bottles, which came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are currently examining whether the soundproofing material used on the ceiling adhered to safety regulations and if the use of candles was permitted in the bar.
In response to the incident, Swiss authorities have initiated a criminal investigation targeting the bar managers. The two individuals are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and unintentionally causing a fire, as stated by the chief prosecutor of the Valais region.
Related: Swiss Bar’s Owners Face Criminal Negligence Probe After Fire
According to regulations in Valais, annual fire safety inspections are mandatory for buildings accessible to the public. Local authorities have indicated that these inspections fall under the municipality’s jurisdiction. The Crans-Montana municipality reported that fire safety checks for Le Constellation were conducted in 2016, 2018, and 2019, with modifications requested. However, no concerns regarding the soundproofing measures were raised during those inspections.
After reviewing documentation post-fire, the local council discovered that “periodic checks were not carried out between 2020 and 2025,” as revealed by Nicolas Féraud, the head of Crans-Montana’s municipal government, during a news conference. “We regret this bitterly,” he stated, emphasizing that it would be up to judicial authorities to assess the impact of this oversight on the events leading to the fire.
Féraud noted that an external expert was commissioned in September of the previous year to conduct a soundproofing analysis, which concluded that the bar complied with anti-noise regulations, without further comments.
The severity of the burns sustained by victims complicated the identification process following the fire, which erupted around 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Families were required to provide DNA samples to assist authorities. By Sunday, investigators had identified all 40 deceased individuals and confirmed the identities of all 116 injured, who hailed from various countries.
On Monday, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced the initiation of a probe to support the Swiss investigation, facilitating communication for the families of French victims. Among the casualties were nine French citizens, including a 14-year-old, with 23 others injured.
Féraud mentioned that inspection reports indicated a maximum capacity of 100 people for both the ground floor and basement of the bar. However, it remains unclear how many patrons were present when the fire broke out, and investigators have suggested that this number may never be determined.
The municipality also revealed that the bar’s owner had obtained a permit for a veranda construction in 2015 and had conducted interior renovations that did not require a permit. In light of the tragedy, the municipality has decided to prohibit the use of fireworks indoors and will engage an external agency to conduct inspections of similar establishments.
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John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
Photograph: Swiss Minister of Justice Beat Jans and State Councillor Mathias Reynard lay flowers at the sealed-off Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, where a devastating fire left many dead and injured during New Year’s celebrations. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Investigators believe that the tragic fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana was ignited by sparkling candles placed atop Champagne bottles, which came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are currently examining whether the soundproofing material used on the ceiling adhered to safety regulations and if the use of candles was permitted in the bar.
In response to the incident, Swiss authorities have initiated a criminal investigation targeting the bar managers. The two individuals are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and unintentionally causing a fire, as stated by the chief prosecutor of the Valais region.
Related: Swiss Bar’s Owners Face Criminal Negligence Probe After Fire
According to regulations in Valais, annual fire safety inspections are mandatory for buildings accessible to the public. Local authorities have indicated that these inspections fall under the municipality’s jurisdiction. The Crans-Montana municipality reported that fire safety checks for Le Constellation were conducted in 2016, 2018, and 2019, with modifications requested. However, no concerns regarding the soundproofing measures were raised during those inspections.
After reviewing documentation post-fire, the local council discovered that “periodic checks were not carried out between 2020 and 2025,” as revealed by Nicolas Féraud, the head of Crans-Montana’s municipal government, during a news conference. “We regret this bitterly,” he stated, emphasizing that it would be up to judicial authorities to assess the impact of this oversight on the events leading to the fire.
Féraud noted that an external expert was commissioned in September of the previous year to conduct a soundproofing analysis, which concluded that the bar complied with anti-noise regulations, without further comments.
The severity of the burns sustained by victims complicated the identification process following the fire, which erupted around 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Families were required to provide DNA samples to assist authorities. By Sunday, investigators had identified all 40 deceased individuals and confirmed the identities of all 116 injured, who hailed from various countries.
On Monday, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced the initiation of a probe to support the Swiss investigation, facilitating communication for the families of French victims. Among the casualties were nine French citizens, including a 14-year-old, with 23 others injured.
Féraud mentioned that inspection reports indicated a maximum capacity of 100 people for both the ground floor and basement of the bar. However, it remains unclear how many patrons were present when the fire broke out, and investigators have suggested that this number may never be determined.
The municipality also revealed that the bar’s owner had obtained a permit for a veranda construction in 2015 and had conducted interior renovations that did not require a permit. In light of the tragedy, the municipality has decided to prohibit the use of fireworks indoors and will engage an external agency to conduct inspections of similar establishments.
___
John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
Photograph: Swiss Minister of Justice Beat Jans and State Councillor Mathias Reynard lay flowers at the sealed-off Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, where a devastating fire left many dead and injured during New Year’s celebrations. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
