Fire safety inspections lapsed for years at Swiss bar where 40 died in New Year’s blaze

Local authorities in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana have admitted that fire safety inspections had not been conducted at Le Constellation bar since 2019, where a tragic New Year’s Day fire claimed 40 lives and injured more than 100 people.

The revelation came Tuesday during a news conference where Nicolas Féraud, head of Crans-Montana’s municipal government, expressed deep regret over the lapse in safety oversight. “We regret this bitterly,” Féraud stated, adding that judicial authorities would determine what impact the missed inspections might have had on the deadly incident.

Investigators believe the fire started when sparkling candles atop champagne bottles came too close to the ceiling, igniting flammable materials. Authorities are specifically examining whether the soundproofing material on the ceiling met regulatory standards and if the candles were permitted for use in the establishment.

Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the bar’s managers on suspicion of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and involuntarily causing a fire. This legal action underscores the potential negligence that may have contributed to the catastrophe.

According to regional regulations in Valais, buildings accessible to the public require annual fire safety inspections, which are the responsibility of the municipality. Records show that Le Constellation underwent inspections in 2016, 2018, and 2019, during which modifications were requested, though no issues with soundproofing measures were identified.

When pressed about the five-year gap in safety checks, Féraud could not immediately explain why inspections hadn’t been conducted between 2020 and the scheduled 2025 check. He did note that an external expert had analyzed the bar’s soundproofing in September 2023 and concluded it complied with anti-noise regulations, making no further remarks about safety concerns.

The fire, which erupted around 1:30 a.m. on January 1st, caused burns so severe that identifying some victims required family members to provide DNA samples. By Sunday, investigators had completed the grim task of identifying all 40 deceased victims, and by Monday, they had identified all 116 injured individuals from various countries.

The international impact of the tragedy prompted the Paris prosecutor’s office to open a parallel investigation to assist the Swiss probe and facilitate communication between French families and Swiss investigators. Nine French citizens perished in the blaze, including a 14-year-old, while 23 others sustained injuries.

Questions remain about overcrowding as a potential factor. Féraud confirmed that inspection reports specified a maximum capacity of 100 people on the bar’s ground floor and another 100 in its basement. However, investigators have stated they may never determine exactly how many patrons were present when the fire broke out.

The municipality disclosed that the bar’s owner had obtained a permit in 2015 to build a veranda and had also performed interior renovations that reportedly did not require permits. In response to the tragedy, local officials have now banned the use of fireworks indoors and decided to commission an independent agency to conduct inspections of similar establishments.

The devastating fire has highlighted potential regulatory gaps in Switzerland’s hospitality industry and raised questions about enforcement of safety standards in public venues. As the criminal investigation proceeds, both local officials and the broader hospitality industry face increasing pressure to reevaluate and strengthen fire safety protocols to prevent similar disasters in the future.