Swiss Bar Owners Face Questions from Victims’ Lawyers Over Fire Disaster

The tragic fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day 2026 has triggered a complex legal battle as victims’ lawyers intensify their scrutiny of the bar’s owners and local officials. With 41 lives lost and 116 injured in one of Switzerland’s deadliest nightclub disasters, the criminal investigation has expanded far beyond the initial charges against the proprietors, revealing a systemic failure in fire safety oversight.

The Incident and Initial Investigation

On January 1, 2026, at 01:26 CET, a fire erupted at Le Constellation bar during New Year celebrations in the luxury ski resort town of Crans-Montana, located 120 miles east of Geneva.[1][2] Swiss authorities determined that lit sparklers attached to champagne bottles likely ignited the ceiling, causing a rapid flashover that engulfed the venue in seconds.[2] The death toll climbed to 41 after an 18-year-old Swiss citizen succumbed to his injuries in a Zurich hospital on January 31.[1] Among the deceased, approximately half were under 18 years old, with victims as young as 14.[1] The injured included nationals from France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the Republic of the Congo.[1]

The Owners Under Scrutiny

Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French proprietors of Le Constellation, face criminal charges including involuntary manslaughter, causing bodily harm, and negligent fire starting.[1] Both owners maintain their innocence, and on January 23, Jacques Moretti was released after bail of CHF 200,000 was paid on his behalf, though both remain under criminal investigation.[2] The maximum possible sentence for all three charges is 4½ years.[2]

Victims’ lawyers are now pressing the Morettis on multiple fronts. The investigation has uncovered that the bar’s interior renovation lacked official authorization.[2] According to the Italian ambassador to Switzerland, the stairs leading to the main exit were narrowed to make room for additional tables, and critically, the main exit door opened inward rather than outward, as required by fire safety regulations.[2] These design flaws created a fatal chokepoint: 34 of the victims were found piled up at the bottom of the staircase, and witnesses reported a loud “whoosh” as flames surged upward when the ground-floor door was opened.[2]

Fire Safety Violations and Negligence

Fire safety experts have identified catastrophic violations in the bar’s construction and maintenance. The insulation material was not installed correctly, and appeared to be made of highly flammable material that was left visible rather than covered, directly violating Swiss safety regulations.[2] The ceiling insulation failed to meet required safety standards, and the bar lacked adequate fire extinguishers and proper emergency exits.[1]

Most damning for the owners is the revelation that the bar had not undergone its required annual fire safety inspections since 2019—a five-year gap in oversight.[1][3] This negligence extends beyond the proprietors themselves.

Expanded Investigation and Local Officials

On January 29, prosecutors expanded the criminal investigation to include a serving municipal official responsible for public safety and a former council fire safety officer.[2] Both deny any wrongdoing.[1] These officials face scrutiny for failing to enforce mandatory fire inspections, raising questions about whether systemic corruption or incompetence allowed dangerous conditions to persist unchecked.

The investigation will examine whether these local authorities deliberately ignored violations or simply failed in their administrative duties. This expansion suggests that victims’ lawyers may pursue claims not only against the bar owners but also against the municipality itself, potentially opening the door to significant civil liability.

The Victims’ Perspective

The tragedy’s human toll remains at the forefront of the legal proceedings. Those killed ranged in age from 14 to 39, with only four victims over 24 years old.[3] Many survivors continue hospitalization for severe burns, with 83 injured suffering third-degree burns affecting over 60 percent of their bodies in some cases.[2] A national day of mourning was observed on January 9, 2026, underscoring the disaster’s profound impact on Swiss society.[2]

The makeshift memorial erected to honor the victims was itself destroyed by fire on February 8, when candles ignited a tent containing flowers and condolences.[1] Though authorities ruled out third-party involvement and no injuries occurred, the incident added to the emotional burden carried by grieving families and friends.

Legal Proceedings Moving Forward

As the investigation continues, victims’ lawyers are building comprehensive cases against multiple defendants. The focus extends beyond determining how the fire started to examining the chain of negligence that allowed preventable deaths. Prosecutors have set bail at CHF 200,000 for each of the two co-owners, with the court expected to make final determinations.[2]

The expanded investigation suggests that Swiss authorities recognize this disaster as a failure of multiple systems: inadequate building codes enforcement, lax fire safety inspections, and dangerous business practices. For the victims’ families, the legal process represents not only an avenue for justice but also a mechanism to demand accountability from those whose negligence transformed a New Year’s celebration into a catastrophe.

Original source: BBC News – Swiss bar owners face questions from victims’ lawyers over fire disaster