Swiss Bar Owner Admits Locked Exit, Used Flammable Panels

Swiss Bar Owner Confesses to Safety Failures in Deadly New Year's Fire

The owner of a Swiss bar where 40 people died in a New Year's Eve fire has admitted that the staff exit was locked and that he installed flammable acoustic panels that fueled the blaze. Jacques Moretti, co-owner of Le Constellation bar in the luxury ski resort of Crans-Montana, made the confession during police interrogation after being detained on suspicion of involuntary homicide and negligence.

Locked Exit and Flammable Materials

According to Swiss broadcaster RTS, Moretti told investigators he didn't know why the staff door on the ground floor was locked. When he opened it from outside after the fire broke out, he reportedly found multiple bodies. The bar's basement had only one exit, trapping many partygoers when the fire erupted around 1:30 a.m. on January 1, 2026.

Moretti also confessed to replacing old acoustic panels with flammable materials purchased from German hardware store Hornbach. 'These panels were sold with warnings about their flammability,' a fire safety expert told RTS. Bar staff were reportedly aware of the panels' dangerous properties, with one employee allegedly warning guests about them years earlier.

No Safety Inspections Since 2019

The tragedy has exposed serious regulatory failures. Crans-Montana's mayor revealed the bar hadn't undergone mandatory annual fire safety inspections since 2019. 'This represents a catastrophic failure of oversight,' said Swiss safety inspector Markus Weber in an interview with The New York Times.

Video footage from the celebration shows revelers holding champagne bottles with sparklers close to the ceiling. The flammable acoustic panels quickly caught fire, creating what witnesses described as a 'wall of flames' that spread within seconds.

Criminal Charges and National Mourning

Jacques Moretti remains in pre-trial detention due to flight risk concerns, while his wife Jessica Moretti has been placed under house arrest. Both face charges of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm, and involuntarily causing a fire.

Switzerland observed a national day of mourning on January 9, 2026, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo attending memorial services. The victims, mostly teenagers and young adults, came from several European countries.

Fireworks Bans and Safety Reforms

The tragedy has prompted immediate safety reforms across Switzerland. Several municipalities have banned fireworks in public spaces, and Italy's ski resort Livigno is considering similar measures. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed support for stricter fireworks regulations.

As the investigation continues, the case has raised urgent questions about nightclub safety standards and regulatory enforcement in tourist destinations. 'This was a preventable tragedy that should serve as a wake-up call for venues worldwide,' said international fire safety consultant Dr. Elena Schmidt in an interview with Associated Press.