A bar worker believed to have accidentally started a deadly New Year's Eve fire in a Swiss ski resort had received no formal safety training, according to a lawyer representing her family. Cyane Panine, 24, was one of 40 people who lost their lives in the blaze at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on 31 December 2025.
Lack of Training and Awareness
Sophie Haenni, the lawyer for Panine's family, told the BBC that her client was never instructed about the dangers present in the bar. Panine has been identified as the woman seen in footage wearing a helmet and sitting on a colleague's shoulders while holding champagne bottles with lit sparklers attached.
Haenni stated that Panine "was never informed of the ceiling's danger" and had received no safety instruction. The fire is believed to have started when sparklers ignited flammable soundproof foam lining the ceiling. The lawyer argued that if proper safety standards had been followed and inspections carried out, the tragic loss of life could have been avoided.
Owners Face Serious Charges
Swiss authorities have brought criminal charges against the French owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti. They face accusations of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. In addition to the 40 fatalities, 116 people were injured in the fire.
The legal proceedings are underway, with a Swiss court imposing a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention. Jacques Moretti is being held in custody for an initial 90-day period. Jessica Moretti has previously expressed sorrow, calling the event an "unthinkable tragedy".
A Victim's Working Conditions
In a formal statement, lawyers for Panine's family claimed the young worker "felt used" and was suffering from her working conditions. They stated she had expressed incomprehension at her employers' lack of empathy regarding her workload.
On the night of the fire, Panine was allegedly not scheduled to be serving tables but was asked to go downstairs to help manage the high demand. "Cyane simply followed the instructions given, did her job, and did so in front of the manager," Haenni said, emphasising that Panine is "undoubtedly a victim" of the circumstances.
The devastating incident led to a national day of mourning in Switzerland on 9 January 2026, with a memorial site established in front of the charred remains of Le Constellation bar.
