Investigators are probing why fire safety inspections at the Swiss bar Le Constellation, where a devastating New Year’s blaze claimed 40 lives, had lapsed for years. The fire, believed to have been ignited by sparkling candles on Champagne bottles, tragically highlighted significant lapses in regulatory oversight. Authorities are examining whether the soundproofing material met safety standards and if the candles used were even permitted within the establishment. This catastrophic event has led to a criminal investigation into the bar’s managers, who face charges including involuntary homicide and involuntarily causing a fire.
In the Valais region, regulations mandate annual fire safety inspections for all buildings accessible to the public. These checks are the responsibility of the local municipality. Records indicate that Le Constellation underwent fire safety inspections in 2016, 2018, and 2019, with some modifications requested. However, no concerns regarding soundproofing were raised during these earlier assessments.
Featured Snippet Paragraph: The direct answer to the question of why fire safety inspections lapsed at the Swiss bar is that periodic checks were not carried out between 2020 and 2025, a fact discovered by the Crans-Montana municipality after the devastating fire. The head of the municipal government expressed deep regret over this oversight.
The head of Crans-Montana’s municipal government, Nicolas Féraud, revealed that a review of documents post-fire showed a complete absence of periodic checks from 2020 to 2025. He stated, “We regret this bitterly,” and indicated that judicial authorities would determine the impact of these missed inspections on the events leading to the tragedy. Féraud admitted he could not immediately provide a reason for the prolonged period without inspections.
Further complicating the timeline, Féraud mentioned that in September of the previous year, an external expert had indeed conducted a soundproofing analysis. This analysis concluded that the bar adhered to anti-noise regulations, with no further comments made at that time regarding fire safety.
The severity of the burns sustained by some victims made initial identification challenging, necessitating DNA samples from grieving families. By Sunday, all 40 deceased had been identified, and by Monday, authorities had accounted for all 116 individuals who sustained injuries, representing multiple nationalities.
The Paris prosecutor’s office has initiated a probe to support the Swiss investigation, aiming to facilitate communication for families of French victims. Nine French citizens, including a 14-year-old, were among the deceased, with an additional 23 injured.
According to municipal records, previous inspections indicated a maximum capacity of 100 people on the bar’s ground floor and another 100 in the basement. It remains unclear how many people were inside Le Constellation when the fire erupted, and investigators acknowledge this number may never be definitively known.
The bar’s owner had secured a permit for veranda construction in 2015 and also undertook interior renovations that did not require specific permits. In response to the tragedy, the municipality has decided to prohibit indoor fireworks and will engage an external agency for inspections of similar establishments.
This incident underscores the critical importance of consistent and thorough fire safety protocols. The lapse in routine inspections at Le Constellation serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when preventative measures are neglected. Ensuring that public spaces adhere to safety regulations is paramount to preventing future tragedies.
The ongoing investigation will likely shed more light on the specific failures that contributed to this devastating loss of life. The focus remains on accountability and implementing stricter oversight to prevent similar incidents from occurring elsewhere in Switzerland and beyond.
The community of Crans-Montana is grappling with the aftermath, offering support to the victims and their families. The tragic events at Le Constellation have brought renewed attention to the essential role of regular safety checks in public venues.
Understanding how fire safety inspections can lapse for such extended periods is crucial for implementing systemic changes. The commitment to re-evaluating and reinforcing inspection protocols is a necessary step forward.
This incident serves as a somber lesson on the interconnectedness of building codes, regular maintenance, and public safety. The final outcome of the investigation will be critical in shaping future safety regulations.
