A ski resort bar in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland, has become the focus of an official investigation after a deadly fire on New Year’s Eve killed at least 40 people, many of whom were underage.
Officials believe the fire was likely caused by sparklers attached to champagne bottles. Footage filmed on the night by partygoers appears to show the sparklers igniting insulation material that was attached to the low ceiling.
Meanwhile a criminal investigation into two managers of the Le Constellation bar has also been launched, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
As officials begin the process of identifying the victims and investigating what happened, what do we know about the venue that has become the site of one of Switzerland’s biggest tragedies?
Who owns the bar?
French media, citing property records, reported that Le Constellation was co-owned by Jacques and Jessica Moretti, a French couple from Corsica.
The couple, who were well-known figures in the Swiss hospitality scene, owned other establishments in the area, French newspaper Le Figaro reported.
While her husband was not present in the venue on the night of the fire, Jessica was and suffered burns on her arm, French media reported.
A friend of the couple, Jean-Thomas Filippini, told reporters he had spoken to her on the phone a few hours after the fire.
“She said they were in a state of shock and it was a catastrophe,” he said, according to The Times.
The couple had acquired the bar in 2015 and refurbished it largely on their own, a local newspaper, Le Nouvelliste, reported at the time.
Local resident Laurent, 30, told Swiss news site Blick that Le Constellation was a popular place for young people to meet up and that safety standards were known to be more lax.
“I’m surprised it took so long for something to happen,” he said. “People used to smoke inside; you could do whatever you wanted. It seemed to me as if the owners were turning a blind eye time and time again.”
Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said in a press conference on Friday that both managers have been interviewed and that there is no penal liability for now as enquiries continue.
What is the layout of the venue?
Le Constellation is located on the ground floor and basement of a residential building.
The basement functions as a music and dance venue, like a nightclub, but was classified as a “lounge”, which meant it was subject to less stringent fire safety regulation, according to Swiss media.
It has a capacity of 300 people, according to the Crans-Montana website, though it is unknown just how many people were at the party on New Year’s Eve.
The event space in the basement of the establishment, where the fire began, was connected with the ground floor by a single staircase.
One witness to the tragedy described seeing sparklers set the foam material installed on the roof on fire.
He said he placed all the blame on the bar.
“It’s not new that this bar was carrying around champagne bottles with flammable devices. For me, it’s a shame that it didn’t build any emergency exits and let this place run freely with a completely flammable roof.”
Swiss planning laws require venues with a capacity of over 200 people to have multiple exits.
Speaking to French news organisation 24 heures, Jacques Moretti insisted “everything was done according to the rules”, and that his venue had been inspected three times in the past ten years.
Officials confirmed there was more than one exit out of the bar, but added they were “not currently able to say” whether the emergency exit was open or closed.
Valais canton Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud told French broadcaster BFM that she went to see the “narrow” staircase herself, describing its width as “a matter of opinion”.
“I think the more people trying to use the same staircase, the narrower it will appear.”
What is the official investigation into the fire looking at?
Pilloud said on Friday that investigators will examine whether sparklers were permitted for use in the bar.
They will also look at the safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers, escape routes, and compliance with regulations.
Authorities also said they planned to look into whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar.
Pilloud also warned of possible prosecutions if there was any criminal liability involving individuals.
“If this is indeed the case and these individuals are still alive, an investigation will be opened against them for negligent arson, negligent homicide, and negligent bodily harm,” she said.
Swiss officials described the blaze as a likely flashover, meaning that it triggered the release of combustible gases that can then ignite violently.
Addressing the videos which appeared to show sparklers setting fire to acoustic foam, Pilloud said investigators were looking into whether the venue’s soundproofing material was “the cause of the problem”, as well as “whether it complies with regulations”.
She added that they were looking into “whether or not [sparklers] can be used in enclosed or confined spaces”.
Swiss authorities confirmed on Saturday that a criminal investigation had been opened into the managers of the bar.
The two managers are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence, police said in a statement.
The Valais region’s top security official, Stéphane Ganzer, told SRF public radio on Saturday that “such a huge accident with a fire in Switzerland means that something didn’t work – maybe the material, maybe the organsation on the spot… Something didn’t work and someone made a mistake, I am sure of that.”
Nicolas Féraud, who heads the Crans-Montana municipality, told RTS radio he was “convinced” checks on the bar hadn’t been lax.
Asked whether the tragedy could have been avoided, Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans replied that officials could not yet answer and “we know that the world needs an answer on this question”.
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