Crans-Montana Fire Investigation Widens, Officials Questioned
The investigation into the New Year’s Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, which claimed the lives of 41 people, is expanding to include current and former local officials, according to recent updates from the Valais Public Prosecutor’s Office. The probe is also facing increasing legal challenges, including a request for the recusal of all five prosecutors involved in the case.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that both the current head of public safety for the municipality of Crans-Montana and a former fire safety officer have been questioned as suspects. The hearings, which began Friday and continued Monday, were lengthy, lasting up to 12 hours, and were temporarily suspended to allow all parties to pose questions.
Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the owners of Le Constellation, who are facing charges of involuntary arson, manslaughter, and negligent bodily harm, will resume their questioning on February 11th and 12th. Lawyers representing victims’ families have indicated they intend to present a substantial number of questions during these sessions.
Prosecutors are also reviewing surveillance footage from Crans-Montana and the bar itself, though a significant portion of the footage was reportedly not preserved in time. The images will be made available to lawyers, but not released to the public due to their sensitive content and private nature.
Growing Legal Complexity
The investigation is becoming increasingly complex legally. A single lawyer has filed a request for the recusal of all five prosecutors working on the case, and the investigation will proceed pending a decision on that request. The number of parties involved in the case has also grown significantly, with 263 plaintiffs now represented by 74 lawyers, up from 130 plaintiffs and their legal counsel on January 23rd.
In a separate development, authorities are preparing for a technical meeting on February 19, 2026, with their Italian counterparts, facilitated by the Federal Office of Justice. The meeting aims to establish a framework for mutual legal assistance, responding to political pressure for greater collaboration in the investigation.
Expert Analysis Underway
A forensic analysis is also underway. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has sent a mandate to the Forensisches Institut in Zurich, incorporating questions from all parties involved. Police are continuing to interview witnesses and gather information as the investigation progresses.
To date, the investigation has involved the issuance of approximately 50 orders and warrants, more than ten interviews, and multiple international requests for assistance. The case file currently comprises nearly 2,000 pages and over 8,500 physical pieces of evidence. Due to the large number of parties involved, hearings have been relocated to the aula of the HES-SO in Sion.
The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 21 Swiss nationals, nine French citizens, six Italians, and citizens of Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey, with an average victim age of 19, continues to reverberate throughout the region. Twenty-three people remain hospitalized in Switzerland, while 44 have been treated in hospitals abroad. The death toll rose to 41 following the death of an 18-year-old Swiss national.
The investigation is focusing on the cause of the fire, believed to have been ignited by sparklers coming into contact with sound insulation foam, as well as fire protection materials and official inspections of the bar.
