Swiss Bar Fire: No Safety Checks for 5 Years Before Deadly Blaze, Authorities Admit

• Authorities in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, admitted no safety inspections were done at Le Constellation bar for five years (2020-2025) before a deadly New Year's Eve fire.
• The fire killed 40 and injured over 100, believed to have started when sparkler candles ignited highly flammable sound-proofing foam.
• Mayor Nicolas Feraud apologized, stating they were unaware checks were missed, despite annual inspections being legally required.
• A criminal investigation for negligent homicide has been launched against the bar owners; a second bar run by them has been closed.
• The town has banned indoor pyrotechnics and commissioned external experts for safety audits, acknowledging limited inspection capacity.

Why It Matters: Lack of mandated safety inspections for five years led to a deadly Swiss bar fire, sparking outrage and investigation.