The Swiss bar hit by a deadly fire on New Year’s Eve had not been inspected for five years, local authorities announced Tuesday.
The Le Constellation bar, where 40 people died in the inferno of December 31, has not been subject to a fire inspection since 2019, indicated the president of the municipality of Crans-Montana.
Nicolas Féraud told journalists at a press conference that the council “bitterly regrets” the discovery of the lack of controls in the establishment. “We will assume all the responsibility that justice assigns to us,” he added.
The mayor said council officials are expected to carry out annual reviews of establishments like bars and assess areas likely to catch fire, such as kitchens.
The inspection law does not include examination of ceiling noise-reducing materials. Previous reviews found no fault with the foam soundproofing, now believed to be at the heart of how the fire consumed the bar.
Féraud said it would be “up to the judges” to decide whether the local council would be part of the criminal investigation opened by Swiss prosecutors.
Commenting on videos showing the fire in the bar’s cellar, Féraud criticized a “culture of reckless risk” on the part of the managers, who are currently being investigated by police for negligent homicide, negligent arson and negligent battery.
Authorities have since closed another location run by the same managers, he said.
Two emergency exits from the premises were enough for 100 customers in the upper part of the bar and 100 others in the basement part, Féraud said. However, he specified that investigators would examine the state of the exits on December 31.
Testimonies from fire survivors and residents who visited the bar have raised questions about whether the basement fire exit was locked the night of the fire.
Féraud also announced a ban on the use of pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces, following the fire, suspected of having originated from sparklers present in champagne bottles.
“This week has been very hard personally,” Féraud said at the conclusion of the press conference. “I will forever remember this night and the sadness of all these families.”
