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

[Rikissa]

There has been mention of there being a terrace area. It's not entirely clear but I think that is not the terrace in front of the venue at street level so is presumably a terrace at the back of the basement, beyond the island bar area and at the opposite end of the space to the stairs up to the main floor area. It's possible that the second terrace is used in the warmer months as an extension to the downstairs bar but was not obvious to those in the basement. On the other hand, there was reference to "windows" being opened which caused an inflow of oxygen which caused the fire to flare up and spread very suddenly. Those "windows" could have been folding or patio doors to the terrace.

I would imagine that nobody realised there was an escape route through those doors and that everyone stampeded towards and up the stairs that they had entered by.

At 17.39 CET in the live feed below, Axel, one of those who had been in the basement, told reporters how he got out. He's saying that when he got upstairs, he had to use a table, and then his feet, to break a window to get out. It seems that there were only one narrow door out from the restaurant into the street.

Switzerland resort fire ‘likely started by sparklers in champagne bottles’, says attorney general – as it happened

Officials say 40 people were killed and 119 injured, with some in hospital still unidentified due to ‘horrific’ injuries

www.theguardian.com

 

[Betty P]

This was the only moment to get the hell out of this trap
Seconds before apocalypse.
Run!!!
Run as fast as your legs can carry you.

"Lost seconds"

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007100597720268937

This is so sad. It reminds me of The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island some years ago. It was also due to some pyrotechnics and acoustic insulation foam.

The Station Nightclub Fire 2003

A fire occurred on the night of Feb. 20, 2003, in The Station nightclub at 211 Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island.

www.nist.gov

Apologies if this is repetitive, but these stories need to be retold.

Avoiding these tragedies is the responsibility of club/building owners and government officials.

 

[Herat]

Promotional video

That's certainly damming. This sparkler thing is incredibly irresponsible. It certainly appears there were no overhead sprinklers or fire alarms.

 

[Dotta]

That's certainly damming. This sparkler thing is incredibly irresponsible. It certainly appears there were no overhead sprinklers or fire alarms.

One of my friends is a skiing fanatic
and he sometimes goes to Switzerland,
(although he prefers Italy).
He told us that, sure, the country is affluent, but the houses/hotels where he stayed during his Swiss skiing trips were old, with old installations, and wooden.
As if time stopped.
But one would think that safety measures were kept according to rules, no?

It seems not.

JMO

 

[Rikissa]

Working in service-sector job,
working with people/customers
is very demanding.
And I mean - VERY demanding.

I'm not sure folks realize it.

It is stressful with constant pressure, dealing with difficult clients
and solving problems in crisis situations.

Staff must take responsibility for customers in crisis situations happening at work place.
And must be adequately trained to cope.

And this is management's task to organize relevant trainings.
No excuses, sorry.

Otherwise, only chaos reigns.

As we can see following this tragedy, unfortunately

JMO

If you can make young twenty-somethings, who think it's glamourous to work in a popular bar, or in some other insta-popular place, to understand what kind of demands there are regarding safety in a crisis situation, you would be a miracle worker. Sometimes it feels that regarding how much instruction they have got, as soon as they take out their cell phone to post on social media, they forget all about safety, the only important thing is to get the best photos to publish.

 

[Sjöberg]

That's certainly damming. This sparkler thing is incredibly irresponsible. It certainly appears there were no overhead sprinklers or fire alarms.

Yeah, that's crazy. I thought it was teens being teens, but this indoor fire use was actually official there. This alone would make me think that someone would have double-checked the safety around these actions at some point... but apparently not.

I am not sure if water sprinklers are mandatory in smaller establishments in Switzerland, but I would not be surprised if they are not (possibly they only have to keep a few fire extinguishers around). However, I'd hope it's unlikely that any public building in Europe could legally NOT have a working fire alarm!?

 

[Herat]

DBM

 

[MelmothTheLost]

He told us that, sure, the country is affluent, but the houses/hotels where he stayed during his Swiss skiing trips were old, with old installations, and wooden.

This is what happens when you base your national architecture on the cuckoo clock.

 

[Dotta]

I don't think the problem was that the building was wooden, so much as it was there was highly-flammable foam with toxic smoke capacity in an underground dark space without apparent emergency exit lights or fire alarms.

That is what I wrote.
Old, not modernized according to the newest safety protocols.
Old installations, not kept up to date.

Well, that was my friend's opinion and he travels all over Europe and can compare countries.

 

[PrairieWind]

Yeah, that's crazy. I thought it was teens being teens, but this indoor fire use was actually official there. This alone would make me think that someone would have double-checked the safety around these actions at some point... but apparently not.

I am not sure if water sprinklers are mandatory in smaller establishments in Switzerland, but I would not be surprised if they are not (possibly they only have to keep a few fire extinguishers around). However, I'd hope it's unlikely that any public building in Europe could legally NOT have a working fire alarm!?

Fire alarm or sprinkler system? I guess we will get to learn a bit about what building/fire codes in Switzerland are like. In the videos I have seen I don't even see anyone trying to use a fire extinguisher.

 

[Rikissa]

One of my friends is a skiing fanatic
and he sometimes goes to Switzerland,
(although he prefers Italy).
He told us that, sure, the country is affluent, but the houses/hotels where he stayed during his Swiss skiing trips were old, with old installations, and wooden.
As if time stopped.
But one would think that safety measures were kept according to rules, no?

It seems not.

JMO

That is what I wrote.
Old, not modernized according to the newest safety protocols.
Old installations, not kept up to date.

The problem with places with old houses, hotels, churches, museums, and so on, is that it's not always possible to update them to today's standard without tearing them down, and to build something new. The cost to install sprinklers, and other safety protocols, can be very expensive, and sometimes the buildings might be damaged if tried, and have to be torn down. Those countries with the most up-to-date safety protocols are those where much of the infrastructure was damaged during WWII, or countries like Sweden, where in many cities the old city centres were bulldozed in the1960s and 1970s, and rebuilt with very ugly buildings.
I do prefer visiting old houses, and buildings, to those from the 1960s and 1970s.

 

[Charlot123]

Sure, those patients would have been transported because they had a realistic chance of surviving both the journey and subsequent treatment. What's not mentioned is those who were so badly injured they were going to die anyway, regardless of any medical intervention. They would have been put on a palliation pathway - heavily sedated and/or put into a coma to ease their deaths.

It's almost certain that amongst the injured in this case there will be some who are beyond recovery. The best anyone can do is to identify them as quickly as possible so that their families can be with them when they die.

It's also almost certain that there will be some who survive with such appalling life-changing disfigurements and disabilities that they come to wish they had died in the first place.

Yes. The eyes, I am thinking of. Still, we are in the area of stem cells and advanced grafting and all, so people have better hope if they survive. Maybe not know. Maybe in 5 years. I want to hope.

Too many tragedies have struck such venues, in too many countries. I wonder if any has ended forbidding this pyrotechnic.

And of course, I knew what country to Google for! There is one that learns from own mistakes instead of saying what’s unconstitutional, for example.

“due to the 1972 Dangerous Fireworks Act, celebrating with a bang is illegal in Singapore.”

So no firecrackers. The Singapore allows only big ones, in open space, operated by licensed professionals.

Also, Ireland and Chile prohibit fireworks.

Here is what happens in the US: all depends on where you live.

These Are the States Where Fireworks Are Legal

Before you attempt to light up the night with a DIY fireworks spectacle, find out the states where fireworks are legal.

www.rd.com

There is Massachusetts which has total ban on them, thank you, MA, but that’s all.

Where I live, some summers of July 4th there is a ban (because we have fires) but then people can always drive to a reservation.

I think the long list of the tragedies may make some countries reconsider.

Also, if non-flame-retardant insulation not meeting building codes can be bought on some sites (Ali express was mentioned), one day of “buying strike” will be enough to pull the product off the market.

I hope we shall know what went wrong there in details, what regulations were bypassed, whatever.

Of course, the businesses of the owners are gone. In the long run, punishing everyone who allowed the couple to bypass regulations and tightening them up for the canton of Valais would be the way to go.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

An interesting tangent to this incident, you may recall that very early on the local authorities ruled out terrorism or an attack on the bar. It turns out that the synagogue serving the small local Jewish community is situated in the same complex of buildings. Three Jewish people are believed to be missing or dead.

Three Jewish people feared missing or dead in Swiss ski resort fire - The Jewish Chronicle

The bar where the fire broke out was located in the same building complex as the resort's synagogue

www.thejc.com

 

[Herat]

The Times of London has an article today about the bar and how it was renovated by the new owners in 2015

Some excerpts:

"Stéphane Ganzer, head of security for the Valais canton, said suggestions by witnesses that the bar had no emergency exit were incorrect. “This building has an emergency exit even if most of the people left by the main exit,” Ganzer told a press conference on Friday. “Few people found the emergency exit.”

Many of the teenagers who had packed into the basement did not manage to reach the narrow stairs leading to the main exit in time to escape the flames.

Swiss regulations stipulate at least three exits for establishments hosting more than 100 people. Witnesses estimated that about 200 people were crammed into the basement."

"According to Swiss media, the basement of the bar effectively functioned as a music and dance venue like a nightclub, but because it was officially classified as a “lounge” it was subject to less stringent regulations."

https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/fire-swiss-ski-resort-crans-montana-qf2zfbrg9

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Switzerland is incredibly expensive. So if you buy champagne for 200-300 euros a bottle, you get some fireworks with it

It's amazing no one cared about the risk and that this hasn't happened there before.

I'm not trying to find excuses for what those in the staff working in the bar did or didn't do correctly that night, it's just because there are regulations and rules written down how things should be handled, the reality of how things are done doesn't always meet those regulations.

It remains to be seen if the staff received fire safety training and if so, what it involved. Do these types of venues actually practice evacuating a crowd?

Of course, the businesses of the owners are gone. In the long run, punishing everyone who allowed the couple to bypass regulations and tightening them up for the canton of Valais would be the way to go.

Whomever renovated the ceiling and used highly flammable material is responsible for that part of it, IMO. We don't who that is, however.

Whomever approved use of sparklers in the venue is responsible for that part. Etc.

The owners losing a business is no big deal. Losing the business is not even the beginning of taking responsibility, in my view. They are sitting safe and unharmed in their nice home right now, so.

 

[acutename]

I think you would be hard pressed to find a building code that actually allows less than 2 means of egress... IMO.

 

[Dotta]

It's amazing no one cared about the risk and that this hasn't happened there before.



It remains to be seen if the staff received fire safety training and if so, what it involved. Do these types of venues actually practice evacuating a crowd?



Whomever renovated the ceiling and used highly flammable material is responsible for that part of it, IMO. We don't who that is, however.

Whomever approved use of sparklers in the venue is responsible for that part. Etc.

The owners losing a business is no big deal. Losing the business is not even the beginning of taking responsibility, in my view. They are sitting safe and unharmed in their nice home right now, so.

The problem seems to me lax regulations.
Out of date procedures.

During Press Conference the lady (AG??) said inspections were municipal task.
She didn't know when the last inspection took place
(or how many customers attended.)

So...
What officials were responsible for giving licence to this club?
How come this place even had a licence to operate?

Crowded basement with narrow staircase, flammable ceiling and an emergency exit NOBODY even noticed?
Not to mention lack of sprinklers and visible fire extinguishers.

And what seems like a sick joke
this place was considered "luxurious".
Huh???

So...
If the owners could operate LEGALLY without elementary Safety Precautions,
who is responsible???

Taking advantage of festive season, masses of tourists and the myth of "a country working like a clockwork" to make money.

With the attitude
"Hail Mary, Don't worry, Be happy".

It is the mentality that has to change IMO.

Beautiful scenery is not enough any more for tourists.
People crave safety.
There are many countries which provide amazing scenery, beautiful nature AND comfortable safe places to relax.

Time to wake up.
The world is changing rapidly.
Those who stand still
are left behind.

JMO

 

[mickey2942]

I remember so many NYE celebrations when I was young, out clubbing. I never looked for "Emergency Exits" or worried about where I was in the club, and how to get out in case of fire.

So sorry for these victims and their families.
Fires belong outside. Sparklers especially.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Christophe and Laetitia Brodard from Lausanne have not heard from their 16-year-old son Arthur
since he joined around 10 of his friends
who had a table at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana.

Your post is so so heartbreaking, Dotta.

 

[PrairieWind]

The problem seems to me lax regulations.
Out of date procedures.

During Press Conference the lady (AG??) said inspections were municipal task.
She didn't know when the last inspection took place
(or how many customers attended.)

So...
What officials were responsible for giving licence to this club?
How come this place even had a licence to operate?

Crowded basement with narrow staircase, flammable ceiling and an emergency exit NOBODY even noticed?
Not to mention lack of sprinklers and visible fire extinguishers.

And what seems like a sick joke
this place was considered "luxurious".
Huh???

So...
If the owners could operate LEGALLY without elementary Safety Precautions,
who is responsible???

Taking advantage of festive season, masses of tourists and the myth of "a country working like a clockwork" to make money.

With the attitude
"Hail Mary, Don't worry, Be happy".

It is the mentality that has to change IMO.

Beautiful scenery is not enough any more for tourists.
People crave safety.
There are many countries which provide amazing scenery, beautiful nature AND comfortable safe places to relax.

Time to wake up.
The world is changing rapidly.
Those who stand still
are left behind.

JMO

And this is where the rubber meets the road. You can have very stringent regulations, but they don't mean anything if you they aren't being enforced and followed. You can see this everywhere in the world, we certainly see it in the US. Someone knows someone, or the department is overworked so they don't actually do the inspections, they just do it on paper. Or it is a case where politically they want to give a break so some group, don't want to displace them so they cut some corners... Its like the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in San Fran. The violations are known, but officials just choose to turn a blind eye for one reason or another. Those officials, the government workers/inspectors, they HAVE to be held accountable as well.