Investigators are examining the soundproofing foam on the ceiling of Le Constellation, a Crans‑Montana bar where a New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people. Prosecutors say sparklers or Bengal candles on champagne bottles may have ignited the foam, which footage shows burning and spreading flames rapidly. Experts warn the material appears highly flammable and may not meet M1 fire‑resistance standards; burning foam can also release toxic fumes in confined spaces. Industry representatives say the installation resembles studio foam rather than the fire‑resistant construction required for public venues.
Investigators Probe Ceiling Foam After Deadly Crans‑Montana New Year’s Fire
The question of whether safety standards were respected has been debated since a bar fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed 40 people (MAXIME SCHMID)(MAXIME SCHMID/AFP/AFP)
Investigators are focusing on the soundproofing foam that covered the low ceiling of Le Constellation, a ski‑resort bar in Crans‑Montana, after a New Year’s Eve blaze killed 40 people. The fire began at about 1:30am (0030 GMT) on Thursday, when the packed basement venue was full of young revelers.
Beatrice Pilloud, the lead prosecutor for Switzerland's Wallis canton, said authorities' primary working hypothesis is that sparklers or Bengal candles attached to champagne bottles, lifted too close to the ceiling, ignited the foam. Social media footage shows the ceiling catching alight and flames spreading rapidly while patrons continued dancing; panic followed once people realised the danger.
'The investigation is indeed focusing on the installation of this foam,' Pilloud said, adding that prosecutors will determine whether the material complied with regulations and whether it contributed to the outbreak and rapid spread of the fire.
'Very Easily Flammable'
Freddy Rigaux, a former professional firefighter in France and a court‑appointed expert, said the material visible in the videos resembles acoustic foams that are 'easily, even very easily, flammable.' He told reporters the foam clearly did not meet the M1 fire‑resistance standards required in public buildings in France, noting that true M1‑rated materials degrade under heat but do not produce sustained flames or flaming droplets.
Rigaux warned that untreated soundproofing foam can allow fire to spread extremely quickly. Another court‑appointed specialist, Romain Amisse, emphasised that burning foam emits highly toxic fumes, which pose a particular threat in confined, crowded spaces like the bar's basement.
Industry Concerns And Comparisons
David Zenouda, vice‑president of the Union of Trades and Industries in the Hotel and Catering Sector in Paris, said it would be 'inconceivable' to use the kind of foam seen in the Crans‑Montana footage in a venue open to the public. He described appropriate acoustic construction for public spaces as a 'box within a box' built with plasterboard and rock wool — a more complex and costly solution designed to limit fire risk.
Experts have compared the tragedy to the Cuba Libre bar fire in Rouen, France, in 2016, which killed 14 people and involved highly flammable ceiling materials. Authorities in Switzerland continue to examine the exact composition of the foam, its installation method and whether safety standards were observed.
Investigators have opened a criminal probe; their findings will inform whether charges are brought and whether existing safety rules need revision or stricter enforcement for hospitality venues.
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