The fire at the Swiss New Year inferno was fueled by foam sound-proofing tiles that had not undergone safety testing for six years, recent revelations have shown.
The mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Feraud, where 40 individuals tragically lost their lives in a New Year’s Day ski bar inferno, acknowledged that the venue had not been subject to safety inspections for the past six years.
Mayor Feraud disclosed that safety checks had not been conducted at Le Constellation bar since 2019. Images from the bar indicated that the ceiling, covered in sound-proofing panels, likely ignited from sparklers near champagne bottles.
Authorities are now investigating whether the soundproofing material and the use of candles in the bar complied with regulations.
Mayor Feraud expressed regret over the lack of safety checks and stated that immediate action would have been taken if safety concerns had been raised earlier.
Despite an external expert’s soundproofing analysis in September last year, confirming compliance with anti-noise regulations, no further checks were conducted thereafter, Feraud confirmed.
Following the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 40 people, mainly teenagers, the mayor, while expressing sorrow, declared that he would not resign, emphasizing the commitment of the inspection team responsible for overseeing thousands of buildings in the area.
The local council is initiating a thorough investigation into the events, including a comprehensive audit of all establishments in the vicinity to ensure compliance with safety standards. The responsibility for the incident will be determined by the judiciary.
Prosecutors suspect that sparkling candles caused the fire, leading to a ban on such candles inside venues. A criminal investigation has been opened against the bar managers, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, for involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire.
In the ongoing investigation, the possibility of arson and manslaughter by negligence charges remains if criminal liability is established. The bar operators have not yet been formally charged.
Authorities have shut down another venue operated by the same managers, as Swiss police confirmed identifying all 116 individuals injured in the fire, with a significant number still hospitalized.
The injured individuals hail from various nationalities, including Swiss, French, Italian, Serb, Polish, Australian, Belgian, Bosnian, Czech, Luxembourgish, Portuguese, Congolese, and dual citizens from different countries.