January 1, 2026, a devastating fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year's Eve festivities. This tragic incident led to 40 confirmed fatalities and at least 116 injuries, many of which were severe.
**Incident Overview**
**Time and Location:** The fire ignited around 1:30 a.m. in the basement of Le Constellation.
**Cause:** Preliminary investigations indicate that the blaze was sparked by sparklers (pyrotechnics) attached to champagne bottles being raised too close to flammable sound insulation foam on the ceiling.
**Flashover Effect:** The fire quickly escalated into a "flashover," where combustible gases ignited almost simultaneously, resulting in a rapid and deadly spread of flames throughout the venue.
**Casualties:** The majority of the victims were young individuals, including numerous teenagers aged 14 to 19. The affected nationalities included Swiss, French, Italian, and others.
**Investigation and Reactions**
**Criminal Investigation:** Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French couple who own the bar, are being investigated for negligent homicide and bodily harm.
**Safety Oversights:** Reports reveal that the bar had not undergone a fire safety inspection for six years (since 2020) and may have insufficient emergency exits, causing a dangerous bottleneck at the main staircase.
**National Mourning:** On Friday, January 2, 2026, Switzerland observed a national day of mourning, with church bells ringing across the country and a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron to pay tribute to the victims.
**Immediate Reforms:** In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Crans-Montana municipality prohibited the use of indoor pyrotechnics and ordered urgent safety inspections of all public venues.
