Fireworks on champagne bottles may have been the cause of deadly Swiss bar fire

A fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort appears to have been caused by fireworks placed on champagne bottles “too close to the ceiling,” authorities said.

A fire broke out in Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day, killing 40 people and injuring 119 others.

Valais canton Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud told a press conference on Friday that the investigation will focus on the materials used at the scene, the bar’s fire safety measures, its capacity and the number of people inside the bar at the time of the fire.

The investigation will explore whether prosecution is warranted. “If that were the case and these people were still alive, a case would be opened against them,” she said.

Ms Pillou told the meeting: “Everything leads us to believe that the fire was caused by a sparkling candle or a sparkler placed on a champagne bottle too close to the ceiling. The blaze started very quickly from that point on.”

Authorities are still working to formally identify the 40 people who died in the fire, with police commander Frédéric Gisler saying “this is our top priority”.

Authorities said many people injured in the fire remain in critical condition.

Of the injured, 113 have been formally identified, Giesler said. These include 71 Swiss citizens, 14 French citizens, 11 Italian citizens and 4 Serbian citizens.

The formal identification process for six more people was ongoing, he said, warning that the numbers could still change.

Among the injured was 19-year-old French footballer Tahirys Dos Santos, according to a statement released by Merz Football Club.

The club said dos Santos suffered “severe burns” in the fire and was airlifted to Germany for treatment.

Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, said some 50 injured “have been transferred or will soon be transferred to specialized centers for severe burns in European countries”.

“Many people were injured but still fighting for their lives,” Renard said.

He added that a ceremony would be held in Crans-Montana on January 9 so that people could come together for “national mourning”.

Ms Pillou later told a press conference that the investigation would also explore whether the bar ceiling complied with building regulations.

Investigators were exploring the issue of foam being installed in the ceiling, she said, adding that at this stage she could not determine whether the foam met requirements or was authorized to be installed.

“It’s important that we don’t make any assumptions … and let’s just do our jobs,” she said.

She said the bar’s two French managers were interviewed, as well as people who escaped the fire.

Ms Pillou said the interviews helped them identify those who were present during the incident.

Lea Zehnder, 22, was celebrating the New Year in a bar within sight of Le Constellation.

She described hearing screams coming from Le Constellation and said her boyfriend helped those with severe burns.

“They couldn’t walk or talk,” she said.

Le Constellation is a large bar that has been open for many years.

It can accommodate up to 300 people and has a small patio, but it’s unclear how many people were there at the time of the fire.

Groups of tearful families and teenagers gathered near the police cordon surrounding the bar on Friday.

Some left bouquets of flowers and candles, others left messages at makeshift shrines.

White tents cover the entrance and exit of the site.

There is a conference center outside the city that provides support to families of the missing.