Champagne ‘Fountain Candles’ Suspected as Cause of Deadly Crans-Montana Bar Fire

CRANS-MONTANA: Swiss prosecutors say initial findings suggest that the devastating fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort may have been sparked by so-called “fountain candles” attached to champagne bottles and held too close to the ceiling.

Local prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said on Friday that witness accounts and early evidence point to the burning decorative candles, also known as Bengal lights, as a key line of inquiry. The fire erupted in the basement of the bar and spread rapidly, leaving at least 40 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to Swiss officials.

“Everything suggests that the fire started from the burning candles that had been attached to champagne bottles,” Pilloud told a news conference. “They were held too close to the ceiling, and from there a very rapid and widespread conflagration ensued.”

Investigators are continuing to comb through the charred remains of the bar, analyzing video recordings and interviewing survivors to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the blaze. Several witnesses reported seeing bar staff lifting champagne bottles fitted with sparkling fountain candles shortly before the fire broke out.

Authorities have questioned the bar’s two owners, a French couple who purchased the establishment in 2015, according to the local canton’s company registry. The investigation will examine past renovations to the premises, the materials used in the interior, the availability and effectiveness of fire safety systems, and whether adequate escape routes were in place. Investigators are also assessing how many people were inside the bar at the time the fire started.

Pilloud said further inquiries will determine whether criminal responsibility applies. “If this is indeed the case and the individuals concerned are still alive, an investigation may be opened for negligent arson, negligent homicide, and negligent bodily injury,” she said.

The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of fire safety standards at entertainment venues in popular ski resorts, particularly during peak tourist season.