Swiss bar hit by deadly New Year’s fire had no safety checks in five years

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Adam HancockJanuary 6, 2026 at 12:42 PM

AI Summary

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A deadly New Year's Day fire at the Le Constellation ski bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed 40 people and injured 116. Local authorities revealed that the bar had not undergone fire safety inspections since 2019, a lapse they "bitterly regret." The fire is believed to have started when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited sound-insulating foam on the ceiling. The victims included many teenagers, with the youngest being 14 years old. Authorities have banned sparkler candles in bars and clubs and commissioned inspections of all public establishments. An investigation is underway, focusing on the bar's operators for possible homicide by negligence.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

France 30% Le Constellation 60% Nicolas Feraud ×270% Switzerland 80% Crans-Montana ×390% New Year's Fire ×395%

Keywords

fire safety 90% safety inspections 80% bar fire 80% crans-montana 70% fire safety checks 70% negligence 60% sparklers 60% ski bar 50% homicide by negligence 50% public establishments 40%