Criminal investigation opened into two officials over deadly new year Swiss fire

A criminal investigation has been launched into a current and former local council official in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, following a deadly New Year's Eve bar fire that killed 40 people. The investigation aims to determine if safety failings by town hall officials contributed to the tragedy at Le Constellation bar. The officials, a current head of public safety and a former fire safety officer, are considered "defendants" and will be questioned in February. This development expands the investigation beyond the bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who already face charges of negligent manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson. The fire, believed to have started from sparklers igniting flammable ceiling material, has raised questions about fire safety compliance at the bar, including the availability of extinguishers and adequacy of exits.