Swiss Ski Bar Fire: Five-Year Safety Check Failure Revealed

A popular bar in a Swiss ski resort had not undergone a mandatory safety inspection for five years before a deadly fire killed 40 people on New Year's Eve, local officials have admitted. The revelation has prompted a criminal investigation and raised serious questions about oversight in the busy tourist region.

The fire broke out in the early hours of January 1 at the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana [40053][39880][42930]. The blaze, which spread rapidly, resulted in one of Switzerland's deadliest building fires in decades [42905][42884][39343]. In addition to the fatalities, more than 115 people were injured, many with severe burns [40141][39861][39343].

At a press conference this week, Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud stated that the bar had not received a legally required annual fire safety inspection since 2020 [42895][42930]. "Periodic inspections were not conducted between 2020 and 2025," Feraud said. "We bitterly regret this" [42895][43126]. Swiss law mandates that municipal fire departments inspect all public establishments every year [43025].

The significant lapse in safety checks is now a central focus of the ongoing criminal probe. Swiss prosecutors have opened an investigation targeting the bar's managers and are examining potential negligence [42905][40718][42884]. Authorities are looking into whether safety rules were violated, including the possible blockage of emergency exits and the use of flammable materials inside the venue [42152][40718].

While the exact cause of the fire remains under official investigation, early evidence suggests handheld sparkling flares brought too close to the ceiling may have ignited the blaze [40053]. The tragedy has plunged the local community into mourning, with Switzerland observing a period of national mourning last week [39343][41180].