Swiss fire safety failures exposed after deadly New Year’s Eve blaze in Crans-Montana
A deadly New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana has exposed serious gaps in Switzerland’s fire safety system. Investigations reveal the municipality failed to carry out mandatory annual inspections between 2019 and 2025, despite clear risks being visible for years. The disaster has now sparked calls for stricter oversight and a review of the country’s fragmented fire protection laws.
The last recorded fire safety check at Le Constellation took place in 2019. That same year, videos showed partygoers waving sparklers directly under highly flammable foam ceiling panels. Yet no follow-up inspections occurred, even though annual checks were legally required.
Switzerland lacks a national fire protection law, leaving each canton to set its own rules. Enforcement and investment in prevention vary widely, with no federal body monitoring compliance. In some cantons, building owners must rely on private insurers for fire damage, as mandatory coverage does not always exist. The Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers (VKF) drafts fire safety standards, but cantons decide how to enforce them. Currently, the VKF is revising regulations to simplify and unify enforcement. The latest findings from the Crans-Montana fire will be included in this process. However, the revision involves multiple stakeholders—from cantonal governments and construction firms to fire brigades and insurers—with the Intercantonal Conference of Building and Fire Insurance Supervisory Authorities (IOTH) holding final approval. Local officials in Crans-Montana have denied responsibility, instead blaming the bar’s operators. They argue that current regulations do not explicitly ban flammable ceiling materials, leaving a legal loophole in place.
The fire has highlighted the weaknesses of Switzerland’s decentralised fire safety system. With no federal oversight, enforcement depends entirely on cantonal decisions and inspections. The VKF’s ongoing regulatory review may address some issues, but changes will require agreement from a wide range of stakeholders.
