The owners of a Swiss ski bar are facing homicide charges after a New Year’s Eve fire turned a packed celebration into one of the deadliest nightclub disasters in Europe’s recent history.
Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the husband-and-wife team behind Le Constellation in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, have been charged with negligent homicide and causing a fire by negligence. The couple, who transformed the once-quiet bar into a nightlife hotspot for après-ski crowds, were questioned by Swiss investigators Friday.
Authorities say the inferno erupted when Champagne bottle sparklers ignited the low wooden ceiling in the club’s basement just after midnight. Within minutes, the fire spread through the cramped venue, trapping dozens of young partygoers.
More than 100 people were injured, and 40 lost their lives—most of them in their teens and twenties. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as flames and smoke filled the small space. “People were screaming and running toward the exits, but it was too late,” one survivor told Swiss media. “The fire spread faster than anyone could react.”
Police confirmed that among the victims were two young Swiss men and two Swiss women, the youngest just 16 years old. Forensic teams are still identifying the remaining bodies as grieving families wait for word.
The Morettis, who took over Le Constellation in 2015, deny breaking safety laws. “Everything was done according to the rules,” Jacques Moretti, 49, said in an interview. “We passed every inspection. This is a nightmare.”
But investigators are focusing on whether the decorative materials used in the bar’s ceiling were fire-resistant—and whether the sparklers should ever have been allowed indoors. “Such a huge accident means something didn’t work,” said regional security chief Stéphane Ganzer. “Maybe the materials, maybe the organization on site—but someone made a mistake.”
Nicolas Féraud, mayor of Crans-Montana, said the town is devastated but insisted safety checks had not been neglected. “This tragedy has shaken our entire community,” he said.
Footage from inside the club captured the first moments of panic as a reveler tried to smother the flames spreading across the ceiling. Seconds later, the video cuts to darkness.
In the aftermath, bars and clubs across Switzerland have pledged to ban Champagne sparklers altogether.
Le Constellation remains sealed off behind police tape, now a shrine of candles and flowers—a grim reminder of how a night meant for celebration turned into horror.
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Was everyone drunk at Le Constellation? Who in their right mind would lite a Sparkler under an old, dried out log ceiling? Someone was not thinking! Plus why wasn’t there a fire retardant water system on the ceiling that would activate when heat touched it? That would have stopped the flames from engulfing the night club!! Was there no safety inspection for fire previously made?
Many families are missing their young adult kids now because someone did NOT conduct a Fire Safety Check — apparently, someone was lying about all safety checks passed inspection!!
Sorry, but someone is going to pay for the loss of those innocent lives…THIS did not need to happen if someone did their job correctly…SAD!