The prosecutor’s office of the canton of Valais has added five municipal officials to the investigation into the devastating New Year’s bar fire in Switzerland, bringing the total number of investigated individuals to nine. This event at the Crans-Montana ski resort left 41 dead and 115 injured in the early hours of January 1, 2026.
Negligence in safety controls
Lawyers for the victims’ families pressured for months to have the municipal officials examined, after it was revealed that fire and safety inspections had not been carried out at the Le Constellation bar since 2019. Local authorities admitted this omission, pointing to serious failures in municipal oversight.
Municipal officials under judicial scrutiny
Among the newly indicted individuals is the current municipal president, Nicolas Féraud, along with a former municipal councilor and current and former heads of municipal security. The prosecutor’s office confirmed these charges on Monday for negligent arson, negligent homicide, and negligent causing of serious bodily harm.
Background and expert reports of the case
Previously, the case pointed to the French owners of the bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, plus the current head of security for Crans-Montana and his predecessor. Initial expert reports indicate that sparklers lit on champagne bottles caused the fire when they hit the acoustic foam on the basement ceiling, spreading rapidly among patrons, many of them teenagers celebrating the New Year.
Those involved, including Jacques Moretti, will testify between April 7 and 15. This case highlights vulnerabilities in nightclubs at Swiss resort towns, where similar pyrotechnics incidents have occurred in previous years, according to alpine safety reports. Fire prevention experts emphasize that the lack of regular inspections multiplies risks in spaces with high human density.
- 41 confirmed fatalities, mostly from smoke inhalation.
- 115 injured, with dozens initially in critical condition.
- Nine investigated in total, a mix of owners and municipal officials.
The tragedy in Crans-Montana has prompted urgent regulation reviews in alpine cantons. The municipal officials now face a trial that could set precedents in public liability for safety at mass events. This New Year’s bar fire in Switzerland serves as a reminder of the importance of strict controls, especially in areas with high winter tourism.
