Investigators Examine Causes of Deadly Swiss Bar Fire on New Year’s Eve

Authorities in Switzerland are investigating the rapid spread of a fire that occurred on New Year’s Eve at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. The incident, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 40 individuals and injured 119 others, has raised serious concerns regarding fire safety protocols in entertainment venues.

Initial findings from a press conference held on Friday suggest that the blaze was ignited by sparkler devices attached to champagne bottles that were held too close to the ceiling. Béatrice Pilloud, the attorney-general of the Valais region, stated, "Everything leads us to believe the fire started from sparklers that were moved too close to the ceiling."

Investigative Efforts

Investigators are scrutinising the bar’s safety compliance and examining videos taken by witnesses during the incident. BBC Verify has analysed these recordings to gain insight into the circumstances surrounding the fire. Two notable images circulated online depict patrons holding champagne bottles with lit sparklers aloft, with flames beginning to gather on the ceiling above them.

One of the images captures a bottle with a sparkler being held over the heads of a crowd, while another shows a person in a crash helmet, sitting atop another individual, holding a similar bottle. These visuals have been authenticated by matching their details with public photographs of Le Constellation, confirming their authenticity and ruling out manipulation through artificial intelligence.

Fire Dynamics and Safety Concerns

Experts in fire safety have expressed concerns regarding the materials used in the bar’s interior, particularly the foam-like padding on the ceiling. Preliminary assessments suggest the presence of polyurethane foam, often employed as a sound-absorbing material. Dr Peter Wilkinson from Loughborough University noted, "Once ignited, polyurethane acoustic foam can exhibit rapid flame spread and produce dense, toxic smoke, significantly accelerating fire growth."

Professor Edwin Galea from the University of Greenwich added that the effectiveness of fire-retardant treatments can diminish over time. As investigations continue, Swiss authorities have yet to confirm the specific type of foam used in the bar and its compliance with safety regulations.

Officials reported a phenomenon known as “flashover” occurring in the bar, where hot gases rise and ignite the room almost instantaneously. Michael Klippel, a fire safety expert at ETH Zurich University, remarked, "Survival after flashover is very unlikely."

Inspection Records and Emergency Exits

The Office Cantonal du Feu (OCF) of the Canton of Valais is responsible for fire safety inspections in the area, with mandatory annual checks for buildings of Le Constellation’s size. Authorities have stated that they will be reviewing previous inspection records to determine if any safety violations had been noted in the past.

During the fire, videos captured patrons attempting to extinguish flames and evacuate through a narrow staircase. Professor Galea warned that such exits can become fatal bottlenecks, where panicked individuals may trip or be trampled amidst chaos. Although officials confirmed there were multiple exits, they could not ascertain whether the emergency exit was accessible at the time of the incident.

Stéphane Ganzer, a Valais state councillor, explained, "There is not just one door, even though it seems that most people left through the main entrance. This building is a public place, and it was obviously equipped with an emergency exit."

Further Investigations

Authorities have also interviewed the two French managers of the bar, as well as several individuals who escaped the fire. One owner reportedly stated that the bar had passed three inspections over the past decade, asserting that all safety measures were adhered to. Investigators have been examining additional footage from the venue, including instances of sparkler usage dating back to May 2024.

As the inquiry progresses, the focus remains on understanding how the fire escalated so quickly and whether existing safety measures were adequate to protect patrons. The tragic events at Le Constellation have raised pressing questions about fire safety in public venues across Switzerland and beyond.