Authorities in the Swiss canton of Valais have imposed an immediate ban on indoor pyrotechnic devices in public venues following the New Year’s fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana. The Council of State also approved CHF10,000 emergency payments per deceased or hospitalised victim and opened a donations account to be transferred to a new independent foundation once created, according to its 14 January communication.
A central contention in the developing case concerns staff training. In statements provided to media, the family’s lawyer, Sophie Haenni, said 24‑year‑old employee Cyane Panine had not received safety training and was unaware of risks posed by the basement ceiling that caught fire. Footage widely circulated in Switzerland appears to show a server wearing a helmet and holding a champagne bottle fitted with a sparkler shortly before the blaze. Her family’s position is that she followed instructions and is a victim rather than a perpetrator.
Investigators have said initial findings point to sparklers igniting soundproofing material on the ceiling of the crowded basement room. Valais police and prosecutors have indicated they are testing whether the materials and the use of interior pyrotechnic effects complied with applicable safety rules. The confirmed toll stands at 40 dead and 116 injured, with the police clarifying on 5 January that an earlier count of 119 injured was revised after verification.
The bar’s owners, French nationals Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under criminal investigation on suspicion of homicide by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and causing a fire by negligence. These align with Articles 117, 125 and 222 of the Swiss Criminal Code. On 12 January 2026, the competent court ordered three months’ pre‑trial detention for Jacques Moretti on flight‑risk grounds, subject to potential release if security measures are met. On 13 January 2026, the Tribunal des mesures de contrainte placed Jessica Moretti under substitute measures including a ban on leaving Switzerland, surrender of identity documents, daily reporting to police and the posting of sureties. Both remain presumed innocent.
Regulatory oversight is now under scrutiny. At a press conference on 6 January 2026, the commune of Crans‑Montana acknowledged that no periodic fire‑safety inspections were carried out at the venue between 2020 and 2025 despite an annual requirement. Cantonal leaders have publicly criticised the failure to enforce checks, and external reviews of municipal procedures are under way.
Policy responses are emerging across western Switzerland. Crans‑Montana issued a local order on 6 January prohibiting pyrotechnics in establishments open to the public; Valais extended this to a canton‑wide prohibition on 14 January. The canton of Vaud announced a similar measure, while Geneva confirmed restrictions for venues subject to its hospitality law. Fribourg has opted against a blanket ban, signalling instead enhanced prevention and oversight. Operators should therefore assume a tighter compliance environment even where no prohibition has been issued.
For venue operators, the immediate operational consequence is the end of ‘sparkler’ bottle‑service and any indoor pyrotechnic effects within Valais and other cantons that have followed suit. Managers should ensure that interior finishes such as acoustic foams meet current fire‑reaction standards, verify that exit routes and doors function without obstruction, document staff safety briefings, and retain evidence of recent checks. Authorities have flagged intensified inspections in the coming weeks.
On victim support, the Valais Council of State confirmed CHF10,000 emergency payments for each family of the deceased and for those hospitalised. The canton has also asked those affected to liaise with LAVI consultation centres under the federal victims’ assistance framework. The Federal Office of Justice has stated that any Confederation support will be subsidiary to insurance coverage and cantonal measures, with coordination across borders where needed given the number of foreign nationals involved.
Cross‑border dimensions are significant. French and Italian authorities have engaged with the Swiss investigation to support their nationals. Repatriations and medical transfers have been coordinated through national and cantonal channels, with Switzerland observing a national moment of mourning and multiple memorial events in the week of 5–12 January.
The legal process will focus on causation, foreseeability and duty of care: whether managers took reasonable precautions, whether the materials met regulatory standards, whether crowding and escape routes were adequately controlled, and whether municipal oversight met statutory obligations. Any charging decisions or indictments will depend on the prosecutor’s assessment once forensic and witness evidence is complete. Civil claims and insurance determinations will proceed in parallel to criminal procedure.
For policy professionals, the near‑term watch points are clear: consistent cantonal guidance on effects used in hospitality settings; resourcing of municipal inspection teams; documentation standards for staff training; and a potential review of interior‑material classifications in high‑density venues. In Valais, the pyrotechnics ban and emergency aid are already in force; inspection practices and venue compliance will determine whether further regulatory steps follow.