The mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Féraud, has admitted that safety officers had not inspected the bar where a New Year's Eve fire killed 40 people for the past five years. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Féraud said periodic inspections required by local bylaws were not conducted between 2020 and 2025, adding: 'We bitterly regret this.'
The fire at Le Constellation bar is believed to have started after sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproofing foam on the ceiling. Féraud said the foam had been considered acceptable at the time of the last inspection, but sparklers have now been banned inside the resort's venues. He could not explain why the bar, renovated in 2015, had not been inspected annually, noting that a team of five officers was responsible for checking more than 10,000 buildings.
Lawyers representing victims' families expressed shock at the admission. Romain Jordan, representing several families, said the 'staggering number of breaches' raised questions about whether the municipality should be investigated urgently. Sébastien Fanti, representing four families of the injured, said it was 'essential' the council accepted responsibility, noting that Le Constellation was one of the five highest-risk locations in the municipality.
The victims included 21 Swiss nationals, nine French citizens, six Italians, and one each from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey. Their ages ranged from 14 to 39, with an average of 19. Of the 116 injured, 83 remain in hospital with severe burns. The bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under investigation for homicide by negligence but have not been arrested. They released a statement saying they were 'devastated' and would cooperate fully.
Féraud said he and his fellow councillors would not resign, as they were elected by the people of Crans-Montana and would not 'jump ship now'. The municipality has joined the criminal proceedings as a civil party to help establish the facts. A memorial ceremony is planned.
