Fire that killed 40 in Swiss bar probably caused by champagne sparklers

Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais canton’s attorney general, said on Friday that the blaze “appears to have started from sparkling candles or sparklers that were put on bottles of champagne that were moved too close to the ceiling”. “The blaze began very quickly,” she said during a press conference. “There are several videos that have been analysed and a number of witnesses interviewed.” Authorities confirmed that 113 of the 119 injured have been formally identified. The deceased include citizens from multiple countries, with many nationalities still being verified. According to theBBC, the victims include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, 11 Italian, four Serbian citizens, and individuals from Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal. Six of the injured remain unidentified. The blaze led to severe burns and injuries for many of the survivors. At least 80 of those injured are in critical condition, according toFrédéric Gisler, Valais police chief. Victims are receiving care at hospitals across Switzerland and other European countries, including specialist burns units. The fire started in the lower-level nightclub and spread quickly through the building. The investigation is focusing on the materials used in the venue’s construction, including the ceiling’s acoustic insulation. Officials are examining whether the materials complied with fire safety standards. The Swiss federal prosecutor's office has not yet filed criminal charges. Pilloud confirmed that the French owners of the nightclub have not been placed under formal restrictions, stating, “No criminal liability has been determined.” Some survivors struggled to escape the building. Thick smoke and low visibility contributed to confusion, with many unable to find emergency exits. Le Constellation, which advertised champagne bottle service with sparklers, was inspected recently, officials said. No issues were found at the time. But the investigation will examine whether regulations were followed during recent renovations and events. The nightclub’s promotional videos showed sparklers used during bottle service. According to Swiss prosecutors, the items used were standard birthday candles available in shops. The incident took place at one of Switzerland’s busiest winter resorts. Crans-Montana had seen its population double during the holiday period. The local hospital was already operating at full capacity when the fire occurred. HT --- **News Source:** Helsinki Times **Original Article:** [https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/28374-fire-that-killed-40-in-swiss-bar-probably-caused-by-champagne-sparklers.html](https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/28374-fire-that-killed-40-in-swiss-bar-probably-caused-by-champagne-sparklers.html) *This article was originally published on helsinkitimes.fi and is shared here for informational purposes.*