Switzerland - 40 dead and 116 injured in fire in bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss ski resort, 1 January 2026

[Herat]

There is also this strange little, very dark alcove in the basement, lit by a neon sign as "Le Bar Clandestin"

It appears to have rock walls, a small table and two chairs, and on the right of the photo is a panel that could be a door, labelled "Cigar Lounge."

I do not see any Emergency Exit signs. If this "Cigar Lounge" was the area described as the smoking room where the basement exit was, there was no way anyone was going to find their way through that to an exit door. This is just atrocious.

There are several Escape Room games called Le Bar Clandestin from a Google search of the term. This, along with the Zone Interdite neon could imply this was another Escape Room bar game in the basement. (the note indicates this photo was from 2025)

Inside ski resort bar devastated by fire where dozens of revellers dead

Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana was a 'local institution' and popular for forty years

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Herat]

And what is this? The barrel appears in more recent photos of the upstairs part of the bar.

Note the locks on the outside of that door. Was this the original basement exit?

Take a look at the stairway From the bottom, you can tell how it has been narrowed from the original design, possibly by a foot or more on each side, creating a dangerous pinch point to get to the upper stairs.

 

[Herat]

I dont' know where in the basement floor layout this is, but I do believe there is a small green Emergency Exit sign in the upper left edge on this photo, of the kind used in Switzerland. However, this looks inconspicuous and would be very difficult to see if you were not staring directly at it. In addition, there are poles and tables in the way, so unless there was automatic bright lighting that went on with a fire, you would not see that sign nor would you have easy safe egress from that area. This is just awful, if this was how the health and safety rules were passed by the inspectors.

This photo was taken from the Le Constellation website:

https://shop4electrical.co.uk/669621-medium_default/robus-rsslr-swiss-green-white-running-man-left-running-man-right-blade-legends-for-swiss-emergency-exit-sign.webp

 

[Herat]

My GAWD

Something else occurs to me: Le Bar Clandestin literally translates to "The Secret Bar". Along with the larger sign : Zone Interdite as "Restricted Area"

Was this some fancy way of signage that was supposed to indicate the Emergency Exit was this way?

The owners would have to have approved of this and paid for all this. They had to know it had been set up this way. Showing the two chairs and a table completely negates this as a safe egress from the building.

This would not pass any inspection as a lighted Emergency Exit identification, no matter how cute or intriguing it appeared. The entire thing is set up as a game some people like to play with Escape Rooms, but it is not in any way safe for use for a panicked, drunk crowd seeing relief from massive heat and toxic choking smoke.

I'm not expecting that the bar should be lit like an operating theater or devoid of cozy nooks. This fails so miserably at a pretense of safety.

If the inspectors signed off on this, then Switzerland has helluva lot to answer for. Their veneer of Swiss precision and reliability is a sham.

 

[planet]

One thing's for sure, I'll be double-checking the ceilings and fire exits of any bar or restaurant I go to after this

I've asked friends and colleagues to do the same-- and leave the second they see flame, smoke, or sparks. Each of us can spread the word in our circles and increase fire safety awareness.

 

[Kittypoo]

Which picture is it? I haven’t seen a picture with fire extinguisher.

I've asked friends and colleagues to do the same-- and leave the second they see flame, smoke, or sparks. Each of us can spread the word in our circles and increase fire safety Log into Facebook

I've asked friends and colleagues to do the same-- and leave the second they see flame, smoke, or sparks. Each of us can spread the word in our circles and increase fire safety awareness.

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A usual haunt I will now be avoiding. Cannot believe these were posted after the Swiss fire as well

 

[Dotta]

"Families shocked ​

Swiss ski bar was not inspected for years before deadly fire.​

Romain Jordan, who represents some of the families, said
the 'staggering number of breaches and shortcomings in the inspections
raises the question
of whether the municipality should be investigated with even greater urgency'.

Other lawyers also urged officials to take responsibility for the disaster at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana.

Under Switzerland's political system,
power is distributed among
three levels of the confederation, 26 cantons and then about 2,131 municipalities.

While safety regulations are set by cantons,
they need to be implemented by local authorities."

Families shocked Swiss ski bar was not inspected for years before deadly fire

The New Year's Eve fire at a bar in Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 116.

www.bbc.com

 

[Dotta]

"Criticism mounts
over Attorney General’s handling of Swiss resort fire case.

Lawyers are reportedly calling for the recusal of Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud amid growing criticism over her handling of the case.

One recurring criticism revealed on Wednesday was
that she is not personally leading the criminal investigation,
having delegated it to a team of four prosecutors.

Initially,
she even reportedly entrusted the investigation to a young prosecutor who had never previously led an investigation.

Another criticism was that prosecutors want to exclude the victims’ families from police interviews,
a position that Pilloud also reaffirmed to broadcaster RTS,
a move the victims’ lawyers say violates the law.

Pilloud also faces criticism
for not placing the bar’s operator and his wife in pretrial detention,
reinforcing a prevailing 'impression of laxity'."

Criticism mounts over attorney general’s handling of Swiss resort fire case: Report

Beatrice Pilloud criticized for not personally leading investigation, alleged inadequate communication, laxity - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

 

[Herat]

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A usual haunt I will now be avoiding. Cannot believe these were posted after the Swiss fire as well

I suspect these flaming drinks are far more popular in bars than we know.

The sparklers are the real problem, well them and the flammable polystyrene foam panels on a low ceiling.

Really, restaurants, bars, discos, lounges and such should ban sparklers and similar items.

Although alcohol is flammable, in high enough concentrations, it's the sparklers burning at 1000F to 3000F that is how this turns into a horror. Sparklers are dangerous enough for skin burns on little kids running around with them, but their intense heat setting the flammable ceiling that turns into a conflagration is a disaster.

 

[LadyL]

Which picture is it? I haven’t seen a picture with fire extinguisher.

picture # 15 interior

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g198810-d10030126-Reviews-Le_Constellation-Crans_Montana_Canton_of_Valais_Swiss_Alps.html

 

[LadyL]

I suspect these flaming drinks are far more popular in bars than we know.

The sparklers are the real problem, well them and the flammable polystyrene foam panels on a low ceiling.

Really, restaurants, bars, discos, lounges and such should ban sparklers and similar items.

Although alcohol is flammable, in high enough concentrations, it's the sparklers burning at 1000F to 3000F that is how this turns into a horror. Sparklers are dangerous enough for skin burns on little kids running around with them, but their intense heat setting the flammable ceiling that turns into a conflagration is a disaster.

they're common here in Canada and not just in bars at night
many restaurants use them for birthdays and other celebrations, day or night

 

[Charlot123]

Another tidbit about the Mayor of Crans-Montana's statement about the most recent inspection of Le Constellation being in 2019

There were no fire alarms

"There was no fire alarm on the premises because “it is not a requirement in such establishments”.

My comments: If there were 119 injured and 40 dead, at this point, then the number of people in that bar were at least 159, and as there were some that escaped, it would be reasonable to conclude that more than 200 people were in that bar. What was the limit for a venue of that size?

What kind of fire regulations exist to promote safety in a dark place with loud music, packed with people, many of which are inebriated and compromised in their ability to recognize danger and act appropriately.

The reputation of the Swiss for regulation and precision has just been torn to bits by an explosion, that clearly shows it was a careless, lackadaisical administration that passed by common safety and health practices in favor of tourist promotion and not causing disruption with prominent businesses.

Information was in the Daily Telegraph article, which is paywalled.

Access Restricted

From what I understand, the fire alarm is not needed for the lounge and the bar was qualified as such. But a lounge means, up to 50 people. That is it.

 

[detective.moon]

09:29
Following the fatal fire at the Le Constellation bar, owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti are being questioned as suspects for the first time. They appeared before the public prosecutor in Sion this morning accompanied by three lawyers, amid intense media interest. The couple are charged with negligent homicide, bodily harm, and arson.

(srf live blog)

 

[Sjöberg]

From what I understand, the fire alarm is not needed for the lounge

This is surprising - until I started googleing around.
Found this from 2018 (about apartments): https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/societ...r-housing-calls-safety-into-question/44584702

 

[Dotta]

"Switzerland falls silent for tragic young inferno victims: ​

Blaze survivors attend poignant service on day of mourning.​

Switzerland is falling silent
in a national day of mourning for the 40 young victims
killed when fire ravaged a ski resort bar crammed with New Year revellers.

The Alpine nation came to a standstill for a minute of silence at 2.00 pm.

The silence was followed by church bells across the country ringing for five minutes,
at the start of a national ceremony of remembrance.

French President Emmanuel Macron
landed at Geneva airport this morning,
from where he went to Martigny for the memorial service - a town about 31 miles down the valley from Crans-Montana where the fire took place.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin,
who has declared the fire 'one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced',
is also joined for the ceremony by Italian president Sergio Mattarella,
whose country lost six nationals in the inferno.

Top officials
from Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia and the European Union
were also due to participate in the ceremony."

Switzerland falls silent to remember inferno victims

French President Emmanuel Macronlanded at Geneva airport this morning, from where he will head to Martigny for the memorial service.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[detective.moon]

2:26 p.m.

Olivia Seigne: “We pause in heavy silence”

After the minute of silence, Valais actress and director Olivia Seigne takes the stage. “We are here, broken because life ends, because something happened that should never have happened, and because questions remain as to why.”

“We pause in heavy silence, a breath for what is missing, for what can no longer be said, no longer lived, no longer shared.”

Katastrophe in Crans-Montana - Die Schweiz trauert – Gedenkanlass in Martigny läuft

Der Bundespräsident hat am heutigen Tag der Trauer zugesichert, aus der Brandkatastrophe Konsequenzen zu ziehen.

www.srf.ch

 

[Harchmare]

https://www.lyonne.fr/france-monde/faits-divers/drame-de-crans-montana-le-gerant-du-bar-jacques-moretti-place-en-detention-preventive-son-epouse-reste-en-liberte_14810691/

couldn’t find any info in English but Jacques Moretti has been arrested.

 

[COSCitizen]

I wonder if investigators will find other recent crimes while investigating moretti, such as corruption, bribery and money laundering.

 

[Harchmare]

Owner of Swiss inferno bar taken into custody

The owner of the Swiss bar where a blaze killed 40 people on New Year's Eve has been arrested, following an order from Swiss prosecutors.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Elley Mae]

Swiss fire latest: Owner of bar where 40 people died in New Year's Eve fire arrested

Jacques Moretti, the manager of the bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that suffered a deadly fire on New Year's Eve, has been arrested. Follow the latest.

news.sky.com

Owner of Swiss fire-disaster bar arrested - General News - Ansa.it

Jacques Moretti, the owner of the Constellation bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana where 40 people, including six Italian teens, were killed in a fire during a New Year's Eve party, was arrested on Friday. (ANSA)

www.ansa.it

Swiss bar owners charged with manslaughter after 40 died in New Year fire

Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who own Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, have been pictured for the first time since the New Year fire as police open a criminal investigation

www.chroniclelive.co.uk