The mayor of Crans-Montana revealed on Tuesday that the bar where a tragic New Year’s fire resulted in 40 fatalities hadn’t undergone a safety inspection since 2019.
Swiss officials are currently looking into what caused the fire that consumed Le Constellation, which broke out in the early hours of January 1. Most of those who lost their lives were teenagers.
“This is deeply regrettable. There were no signs that inspections were not conducted as they should have been,” Mayor Nicola Ferro commented to the media, emphasizing that local bars are required to have yearly inspections.
According to prosecutors, the fire likely originated from a candle that had been lit in the bar’s basement ceiling, which was covered with soundproofing foam.
A video from a New Year’s Eve celebration in 2019 shared by Swiss broadcaster RTS showed a waiter with sparklers in bottles, cautioning patrons to “Watch out for the bubbles!”
However, Reuters has yet to confirm the video’s authenticity. Feraud, from the safety team, mentioned they were unaware such an event was happening there.
Soundproofing Foam Uninspected
Ferro stated that Le Constellation last passed inspection in 2019, when the soundproofing foam was deemed acceptable. Due to the bar’s size, fire alarms were not mandatory.
“These acoustic panels have never been checked, as our safety team didn’t see it as necessary,” Fellows remarked.
While the law does not require a check on such materials, he noted, “It’s up to the court to decide if inspections should have occurred regardless.”
Authorities are looking into two men who managed the bar for possible manslaughter charges.
Recently, police stated that current circumstances did not support any arrests, and it was determined that there was no flight risk involved.
Ms. Fellows mentioned that another establishment owned by the same duo has been closed, and sparkler candles, which may have sparked the fire, are now banned in the town.
Additionally, further safety inspections will be carried out immediately.
Two Exits
Alongside the 40 fatalities, at least 116 individuals suffered injuries, prompting concerns about the bar’s capacity at the time of the incident.
Fellows added that the establishment accommodates a maximum of 200 patrons, with emergency exits for 100 people on each of the two floors. He expressed uncertainty about whether the downstairs exit functioned that night, indicating that investigators would verify this.
Officials noted that the bar had also been inspected in 2016 and 2018. Before Crans-Montana became established in 2017, the building previously belonged to a different municipality, according to Fellows.
