Safety Setup Under Scrutiny After Tragic Swiss Bar Fire

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Intensifying Scrutiny Over Safety at Swiss Bar Fire

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland, Jan 3 – As the investigation into a tragic fire at a Swiss bar continues, questions are mounting regarding the safety measures in place. The incident occurred during a New Year's Eve party and resulted in at least 40 deaths. Prosecutors have indicated that the blaze likely started when sparkling candles were placed too close to the ceiling.

Witnesses reported seeing staff members at the Le Constellation bar carrying fountain candles atop bottles of champagne. This has raised concerns about the use of such materials in an enclosed space. Additionally, there are questions about a foam material used to soundproof the basement where many revellers were dancing.

Beatrice Pilloud, chief prosecutor of Valais, the canton that includes the bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, stated that initial findings suggest the fire began when sparklers were too close to the ceiling. "From there, a rapid, very rapid and widespread blaze ensued," she said on Friday afternoon.

Further investigations will determine if anyone faces criminal liability for the fire, according to Pilloud. Despite the quick arrival of police at the scene, the fire burned victims so severely that investigators said they would need days to identify the bodies.

So far, officials have only identified a teenage Italian international golfer, Emanuele Galeppini. According to two people familiar with the investigation, some of the victims may be under 16.

Local residents described the bar as popular among young people, and the Swiss government suggested that many of the deceased were likely youths. In Switzerland, beer and wine can be consumed from age 16.

One of the bar's owners, Jacques Moretti, told the Tribune de Geneve newspaper that Le Constellation had been checked three times in 10 years and that everything was done according to the rules. However, the bar's owners could not be immediately reached for comment.

Stephane Ganzer, head of security in Valais, mentioned that the investigation will determine if the bar had undergone its annual building inspections. However, he noted that the town had not raised any concerns or reported defects to the canton.

Grieving residents continued to pay their respects to the victims of the blaze on Friday, leaving flowers and tributes nearby. At the same time, police began reopening the area around the cordoned-off bar in the heart of the wealthy mountain town.

Ashley Hauri, 23, shared her experience just before the fire broke out. She had been on the verge of going to Le Constellation to catch up with friends but ultimately decided against it. Six of her former co-workers, ranging in age from their 20s to their 40s, were inside when the blaze erupted. Two of them ended up in the hospital, while the other four are still missing.

"I was really shocked," said Hauri, who immediately tried to contact her friends. "But I had no answers, and I was really scared and panicked because I wanted to do something."