A bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana where a devastating fire killed 40 people and injured 116 had not been inspected for fire safety for five years, local authorities have confirmed.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Crans-Montana mayor Nicolas Feraud said he could not explain why Le Constellation bar had not undergone inspections since 2019, despite regulations requiring annual checks. He offered a public apology, saying the local council was “profoundly sorry” and would accept responsibility.
“We regret this deeply. We owe it to the families,” Feraud said.
Authorities believe the fire was sparked when partygoers raised champagne bottles fitted with sparklers too close to the ceiling, igniting sound-insulating foam. In response, sparklers have now been banned in local venues, and an external contractor will be appointed to inspect and audit all 128 hospitality venues in the area.
Feraud acknowledged that only five inspectors were responsible for monitoring more than 10,000 buildings in the resort and admitted he had no explanation for why the bar was missed for so long.
“I have no answer for you today,” he said repeatedly when questioned. While accepting responsibility, the mayor ruled out resigning, stating he intended to remain in office.
Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the incident. Feraud said it would be up to judges to determine whether any local authority officials would be implicated.
The fire broke out on New Year’s Day, when the bar appeared to be overcrowded. Feraud said enforcing capacity limits was the responsibility of the bar’s management. The venue was licensed for a maximum of 200 people, with emergency exits designed to serve 100 people on each level, though it remains unclear whether the basement exit was operational at the time.
Prosecutors in the canton of Valais have placed the two bar managers—identified by local media as French nationals Jacques and Jessica Moretti—under criminal investigation. They are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
Investigators believe the sparklers ignited the acoustic foam lining the ceiling of the basement bar. Feraud described both the use of the foam and the decision to allow sparklers inside the venue as “extremely negligent.”
Footage broadcast by Swiss public broadcaster RTS from 2019 shows patrons holding bottles with sparklers while a staff member warns them about the ceiling foam. Feraud said he was unaware of the footage at the time and would have ordered an investigation had it been brought to his attention.
Records show that inspections took place in 2016, 2018 and 2019, but none occurred between 2020 and 2025. The mayor also revealed that renovations carried out in 2015 did not require a permit, which is when the soundproofing foam was installed. He said the material was never assessed by safety inspectors.
Investigators are now examining several factors, including the fire resistance of the foam, emergency exit compliance, and reports of crowd congestion, particularly on the staircase leading to the basement. Swiss regulations require exit doors to open outward and be clearly marked.
Switzerland’s safety regulations are set at the cantonal level but enforced by municipalities. The failure to inspect Le Constellation for five years has raised broader concerns about weaknesses in the enforcement system.
Residents have continued to leave flowers and candles outside the bar in memory of the victims.
