A fatal fire in the Swiss Le Constellation bar has killed 40 individuals and injured 116 others during a New Years celebration (NBC). Officials believe the fire was ignited by sparkling candles on top of bottles of alcohol near the basement ceiling (see image). Swiss fire officials stated some bodies were burnt so badly they were unidentifiable; requiring DNA samples from family members to identify victims. Investigators are inquiring on the possibility that the soundproofing foam material on the ceiling fueled the fire.
Controversy has risen regarding the lack of fire inspection leading up to the incident. The bar received full fire safety checks in 2016, 2018, and 2019, yet none between 2020 and 2025. For reference, Switzerland law requires establishments receive these inspections annually. This has pointed fingers at the bar managers, who are at fault for these lack of inspections. Nicolas Féraud, a municipal official of the region, stated, “We regret this bitterly” (Reuters).
Other sources suggest this incident was inevitable. A resurfaced video from a 2019 New Years celebration at Le Constellation showed partygoers walking around with sparklers in the bar’s basement. The video shows a waiter shouting, “Watch out for the foam!” as guests walk around (ABC). While the bar passed its 2019 inspection and the foam was considered ‘acceptable’, the bar did not require a fire alarm at the time due to its small size. Since then, the bar has completed renovations not requiring a permit, which increased the size. The bar had two exits meant to quickly evacuate 100 people each, however the basement exit was not working that night, precisely where the fire began. Questions have also been raised about the number of attendees that night, some estimating the number exceeded the 200 person limit.
Swiss officials continue to investigate the incident to determine an official cause. The fate of the bar owners will be decided in judicial courts as they are suspected of multiple counts of involuntary homicide. Locals have created a mural outside the ruble for those who lost their lives full of pictures, candles, and flowers in remembrance.
