The owners of the Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana say some employees’ actions may have helped trigger the New Year’s Eve fire that killed 40 and injured over 100. They singled out a staff member holding champagne bottles topped with sparklers as a likely ignition source and acknowledged staff lacked formal fire training. Authorities are investigating safety inspections, the venue’s ceiling foam and disputed claims about locked exits; both owners now face negligence charges.
Swiss Nightclub Owners Point to Staff After Devastating New Year’s Blaze That Killed 40
Owners of "Le Constellation" bar Jacques Moretti and Jessica Moretti; Le Constellation bar.Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty; MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via Getty
The owners of the Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, have told prosecutors they believe some employees' actions contributed to the New Year’s Eve fire that killed 40 people and injured more than 100.
Owners' Account and Allegations
Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who run Constellation, were questioned by prosecutors from the Valais canton on Jan. 20 and 21. According to reports, the couple sought to shift some responsibility to staff members, including employees who later died in the blaze.
The entrance of the bar Le Constellation where a fire killed 40 people and injuring more than 100 others in Crans-MontanaMAXIME SCHMID / AFP/Getty
The Morettis highlighted 24-year-old employee Cyane Panine, saying she climbed onto a coworker’s shoulders while holding two champagne bottles topped with sparklers known locally as magic fountains. Authorities have identified sparklers placed in bottles as a likely ignition source. Jacques Moretti acknowledged he did not forbid the action and said he never gave Panine formal safety instructions, adding that he "did not see the danger." Panine was among those killed in the fire.
Training, Safety Procedures and Equipment
Jacques admitted the venue did not provide formal fire-training sessions for staff and that employees were only told verbally which procedures to follow in an emergency. One worker hired just weeks before the incident told investigators she was never shown where fire extinguishers were located; Jacques said he may have forgotten to point them out to her.
Emergency workers respond to a scene where a fire broke out overnight at Le Constellation bar on January 1, 2026 in Crans-Montana, SwitzerlandValais Cantonal Police via Getty
The owners also said a local company recommended the soundproofing foam fixed to the ceiling and that the material had been approved by local fire officials. Separately, authorities have said that formal fire safety inspections had not been carried out at the bar for several years, a matter now under scrutiny by prosecutors.
Other Disputed Claims
The Morettis alleged that a service door that might have provided an additional escape route had been locked; the cook accused of doing so has strongly denied the allegation. Investigators continue to examine witness accounts, security measures and the sequence of events that turned a celebration into a catastrophe.
Legal Action and Statements
In the aftermath of the hearings, Jacques Moretti was taken into custody amid concerns he might flee. Both Jacques and Jessica face charges including manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence. Authorities continue to investigate safety practices, training records and the decisions that preceded the tragedy.
After the questioning, Jacques reportedly apologized to victims' families while also saying the couple "are also victims" of the tragedy. Jessica described the fire as "a true tragedy" and expressed regret that it occurred at their venue.
More than 100 people were injured in the blaze; many suffered severe burns and other serious injuries. The probe remains active as Swiss prosecutors and safety authorities seek to establish full accountability.
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