Sparklers on Champagne Bottles Likely Ignited Crans-Montana Blaze, Prosecutors Say

Swiss investigators have concluded that pyrotechnic sparklers affixed to bottles of champagne are the most likely ignition source of the deadly fire that ripped through Le Constellation bar and nightclub in Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 3. The blaze, which struck after New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Alpine resort, produced an intense and rapid flashover after flames apparently reached flammable ceiling or acoustic panels.

Valais canton Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud said investigators have examined social-media imagery and on-site evidence and outlined the sparkler hypothesis as the leading scenario. “Some hypotheses can be confirmed,” she told reporters, adding that “as things stand, everything points to the fire starting from sparklers or flares placed in champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling.” Prosecutors stressed that the inquiry remains at an early stage and that technicians will continue forensic testing.

Authorities and multiple outlets report at least 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured; some sources place the injured count at 119. Medical teams said many of the wounded suffered severe burns, placing heavy demands on local hospitals during a peak winter tourism period. Police said 113 of the injured have been formally identified; among those identified were 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, 11 Italians and four Serbs, with other nationalities among the victims. Police commander Frédéric Gisler said identifying the dead is a priority, and regional officials have said experts will rely on dental records and DNA to proceed.

Video and photos widely shared online appear to show lit “Bengal lights,” fountain-style candles or small flares mounted on bottles and held close to the venue’s low ceiling. Witnesses and early footage cited by investigators indicate the devices were a common party gimmick at Le Constellation. Once the pyrotechnics contacted the ceiling, flames spread swiftly, consistent with an accelerated flashover in a confined interior space.

Prosecutors have signaled the investigation will probe beyond the ignition source to examine building materials, recent renovations, the flammability of acoustic and ceiling panels, the bar’s fire-safety arrangements, and whether legal capacity and evacuation protocols were respected. A judicial inquiry will determine compliance with safety regulations and whether criminal liability should be pursued.

The incident has immediate diplomatic and consular implications, given the number of foreign victims, and is likely to prompt wider scrutiny across Europe of indoor pyrotechnic use in hospitality venues. For residents and visitors of ski resorts that mix crowded nightlife with wooden or retrofitted interiors, the Crans-Montana fire underscores how small celebratory devices can trigger catastrophic outcomes when combined with combustible construction or insufficient fire protection.

Investigators urged caution about early conclusions while continuing technical analyses at the scene. As families await formal identifications and answers, authorities face the twin tasks of concluding a thorough forensic investigation and addressing the regulatory and safety questions now raised across Switzerland and beyond.