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

[Herat]

At least 6 years absolutely neglectful
IMO

The presence of polystyrene foam insulation panels on the ceiling would appear to have not been identified as a problem in their last inspection in 2019.

Honestly, there are few material worse for flammability and creation of a true toxic chemical smoke and flashover than the panels that were there.

Almost as bad as if they were gasoline-soaked.

We have several recent testimonies to this particularly deadly problem - the conflagration of the seven apartment towers in Hong Kong, and the Grefell Towers disaster in the UK.

When you look at a list of nightclub fires since 1900, arson with gasoline used to be a more common issue in massive fatality situations. In the last 40 years, pyrotechnics (which would include sparklers) and foam or other flammable ceiling materials have surged to the forefrront as causations of multiple deaths. The worst are also compounded by locked or poorly identified emergency exits that could not be used or found for evacuations in a timely manner.

List of nightclub fires - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Sarahlou]

The stopping of inspections coincides with covid. But what happened to make them not start them up again?

 

[detective.moon]

Spoiler: Graphic photo of donor skin

123.000 square cm of donor skin has been sent to switzerland from a dutch “skin bank”, so far! this bank was started after the very similar tragedy in volendam 25 years ago.

<Modnote: Link also goes to photo of donor skin>

Weefselbank Haarlem doneert huid voor Zwitserse cafébrandslachtoffers

Veel bezoekers van de cafébrand in Crans-Montana liggen met ernstige brandwonden in het ziekenhuis. René Schilder was voor 45 procent verbrand na de Volendambrand in 2001. Hij weet hoe belangrijk donorhuid is voor genezing.

nos.nl

 

[detective.moon]

Lawyer pushes for more financial aid, wave of solidarity rolls in

The canton of Valais has announced financial support for the families of the victims in Crans-Montana. However, the aid provided by private individuals and the canton of Valais is not enough, says Bernese lawyer Rolf Steinegger. He has called on SRF for the rapid establishment of an aid fund with the federal government as mediator – similar to what happened after the terrorist attack in Luxor, Egypt, in 1997. At that time, around five million Swiss francs were paid to the victims by tour operators and liability insurers.

Meanwhile, there has been a huge wave of solidarity across Switzerland for those affected by the accident. SRF News visited a volunteer in Zurich who is providing an apartment near the University Hospital of Zurich for a young man affected by the accident so that he can be with his injured girlfriend.

Katastrophe in Crans-Montana - Betreiber von «Le Constellation» wollen Verantwortung übernehmen

In einer schriftlichen Stellungnahme äussern sich die Betreiber der Bar erstmals ausführlich zur Brandkatastrophe.

www.srf.ch

 

[mickey2942]

The stopping of inspections coincides with covid. But what happened to make them not start them up again?

I wonder if Europe has had the same problem as the United States, to get people back to working in an office. There seems to be more accountability. ?

 

[detective.moon]

from the SRF live blog today:
- four funerals in italy today. the funerals are broadcasted live on television and there is a minute of silence in schools throughout the country
- a victim representative for multiple families is demanding apologies from the authorities for mistakes that have been made (lack of safety checks)
- the world cup skiing in adelboden has canceled the friday program, friday will be a national day of mourning in switzerland

Katastrophe in Crans-Montana - Italien trauert um Brandopfer – mehrere Bestattungen im Land

Angehörige und die Öffentlichkeit nehmen in mehreren Städten Abschied von Jugendlichen, die in Crans-Montana starben.

www.srf.ch

 

[Dotta]

"The Saddest Farewell"

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008917691562692968

 

[mickey2942]

from the SRF live blog today:
- four funerals in italy today. the funerals are broadcasted live on television and there is a minute of silence in schools throughout the country
- a victim representative for multiple families is demanding apologies from the authorities for mistakes that have been made (lack of safety checks)
- the world cup skiing in adelboden has canceled the friday program, friday will be a national day of mourning in switzerland

Katastrophe in Crans-Montana - Italien trauert um Brandopfer – mehrere Bestattungen im Land

Angehörige und die Öffentlichkeit nehmen in mehreren Städten Abschied von Jugendlichen, die in Crans-Montana starben.

www.srf.ch

That is interesting that the World Cup Skiing has been canceled. It wouldn't surprise me if this incident does affect tourism in the area.

After all, safety check, 6 years ago?! Wow! What other places are just as bad?

 

[Dotta]

That is interesting that the World Cup Skiing has been canceled. It wouldn't surprise me if this incident does affect tourism in the area.

After all, safety check, 6 years ago?! Wow! What other places are just as bad?

I understood
Friday programme was cancelled as that day is National Mourning in Switzerland.

 

[detective.moon]

That is interesting that the World Cup Skiing has been canceled. It wouldn't surprise me if this incident does affect tourism in the area.

After all, safety check, 6 years ago?! Wow! What other places are just as bad?

from what i understand, only the events on friday (which is the day of mourning) are cancelled but the actual skiing was planned for saturday and sunday and that’s still happening!

Ski Weltcup Adelboden sagt Programm am nationalen Trauertag ab | Nau.ch

Am Wochenende stehen die Skirennen in Adelboden an. Auf das Programm am Freitag wird nach der Crans-Montana-Tragödie aber verzichtet – das Gelände bleibt zu.

www.nau.ch

 

[Herat]

That is interesting that the World Cup Skiing has been canceled. It wouldn't surprise me if this incident does affect tourism in the area.

After all, safety check, 6 years ago?! Wow! What other places are just as bad?

It would be interesting to know if the Moretti's two other restaurant also escaped inspection for the last 6 years.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009034313883357337

 

[LadyL]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009034313883357337

Former staff have also claimed that safety standards at the club were poor, alleging that fire extinguishers were kept under lock and key and that the bar's emergency exit was often locked.

[bbm]

well we know the part about the fire extinguishers is not true as there is one visible and readily available in at least one of the pictures of the bar, which makes me doubt everything else in this article ...

 

[djanga]

Former staff have also claimed that safety standards at the club were poor, alleging that fire extinguishers were kept under lock and key and that the bar's emergency exit was often locked.

[bbm]

well we know the part about the fire extinguishers is not true as there is one visible and readily available in at least one of the pictures of the bar, which makes me doubt everything else in this article ...

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

 

[Herat]

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

Upthread a bit there are several photos taken about the time of the remodel in 2015, showing the wood on the wall being installed and such.

There was one photo that appears to be taken inside the actual bar area that shows one red tall fire extinguisher below the counter.

Who knows if it was there the night of Dec 31, 2025

 

[Serononin]

The presence of polystyrene foam insulation panels on the ceiling would appear to have not been identified as a problem in their last inspection in 2019.

Honestly, there are few material worse for flammability and creation of a true toxic chemical smoke and flashover than the panels that were there.

Almost as bad as if they were gasoline-soaked.

We have several recent testimonies to this particularly deadly problem - the conflagration of the seven apartment towers in Hong Kong, and the Grefell Towers disaster in the UK.

When you look at a list of nightclub fires since 1900, arson with gasoline used to be a more common issue in massive fatality situations. In the last 40 years, pyrotechnics (which would include sparklers) and foam or other flammable ceiling materials have surged to the forefrront as causations of multiple deaths. The worst are also compounded by locked or poorly identified emergency exits that could not be used or found for evacuations in a timely manner.

List of nightclub fires - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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

 

[AnnieAnnieAnnieAnnie]

I wonder if Europe has had the same problem as the United States, to get people back to working in an office. There seems to be more accountability. ?

There were hugely different lockdown rules throughout Europe. For example some people in the UK started working from home in March 2020 and have never gone back. However in other countries (for example Norway) there was never any requirement to work from home (it was a suggestion for a month or two). There is no work from home culture here now as a result of covid. As someone with colleagues in the UK who work in inspections in a similar field, there is no difference in the number/frequency of inspections pre/post covid and working from home or in the office makes no difference to this. Obviously there was a delay and backlog created by covid though. I don't know what the lockdown protocol was in Switzerland.

 

[Rikissa]

When I looked photos of the bar from before the fire I noticed a fire extingusher behind what looked as a bar. It seems as a photo taken by someone visiting the place. Is there a source for working fire extinguisers locked away in an unused room?
See photo 26 of 29.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g198810-d10030126-Reviews-Le_Constellation-Crans_Montana_Canton_of_Valais_Swiss_Alps.html#/media/10030126/?type=ALL_INCLUDING_RESTRICTED&albumid=101&category=101

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

 

[Herat]

I believe this image is dated 2016. From the ceiling, that looks to me to be the upper terrace area bar. not the basement bar. As it is visible from the customer side of the bar, I wonder what access from inside the bar looks like.

It actually looks like it would be difficult to remove from that alcove. The handle and spray nozzle on the top are not easily grab-able, as they appear tucked up under the trip on the bar countertop. You would have to wrestle the unit down from the bottom to be able to grab the area that you really need. Hard to understand why this kind of arrangement would be allowed.

This fire extinguisher would have been of no help if the basement ceiling was on fire.

I sincerely do hope that the investigation will reveal where the fire extinguishers were, and who knew how to use them. I think the families deserve to know.

 

[Herat]

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

See my post #439

It was in the upstairs terrace bar facing the customer side in a photo dated May 2016. Who knows if there was still one that had not expired 10 years later.

I haven't yet seen any photos of one in the basement bar.