At approximately 1:30 a.m. on 1 January 2026, a fire broke out at Le Constellation, a nightclub in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland. The fire occurred during New Year’s Eve celebrations and resulted in the deaths of 40 people, with another 116 injured. Most of the victims were young adults and teenagers.
Video taken by occupants of the bar suggests the fire was ignited by sparklers attached to champagne bottles, which were raised too close to the ceiling. Early indications also suggest that the ceiling was clad in acoustic foam, which may have contributed to rapid fire spread and heavy smoke production.
The loss of life is devastating. However, from a fire safety perspective, this type of tragedy is neither new nor unexpected. What is shocking is not that it happened, but that it continues to happen.
A Repeating Pattern in Nightclub Fires
Nightclub fires have occurred repeatedly over several decades, and in most cases, they share a common set of characteristics:
- An ignition source involving pyrotechnics or open flames
- Low ceilings clad with acoustic insulation, leading to rapid fire growth and flashover
- Large numbers of occupants unfamiliar with escape routes and evacuation procedures
- Untenable conditions occurring before occupants can reach safety
- Inadequate, obstructed or poorly maintained escape routes and a lack of fire safety management
- Gaps in regulatory approvals and inspection regimes
Historically significant incidents – such as the Stardust nightclub fire in Dublin, Ireland in 1981, and the Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island, U.S. in 2003 – clearly demonstrate this pattern. In both cases, the fire originated in a low-ceilinged area, spread rapidly and produced dense, toxic smoke, resulting in severely reduced visibility and untenable conditions along exit routes. Modelling carried out by Jensen Hughes as part of the Stardust inquests showed that locked exits contributed directly to the loss of life. The modelling also showed that untenable conditions were reached within approximately one minute of the fire being discovered.
Why Basement Locations Are Particularly Dangerous
Nightclubs located in basements present specific fire safety challenges due to several inherent characteristics:
- Limited smoke ventilation: Unlike ground-floor or upper stories, basements typically lack windows or other openings through which smoke can vent. Without a means to release the pressure, smoke is forced into stairways, which then act as chimneys.
- Compromised means of escape: Once smoke fills the stairwell or main egress, occupants have nowhere to go without entering a hazardous environment.
It is too early in the investigation to draw conclusions about the escape routes in the Crans-Montana fire, however, accounts from survivors suggest that many people attempted to escape via staircases that had already become untenable due to smoke.
Behaviour Under Unexpected Fire Conditions
Reports suggesting that individuals delayed escape to record video on their phones miss a crucial point. Evidence from previous fires shows that delayed recognition, hesitation and initial confusion are normal and expected human responses in environments where fire is not anticipated. This is well documented in fire incident studies and should be factored into safety designs and regulations, rather than being used to assign blame to occupants after the fact.
Regulatory Gaps
It has been confirmed that local authorities had not inspected the nightclub since 2019. Had an inspection taken place, issues such as the presence of acoustic insulation on the ceiling may have been identified. Again, this is a common theme in these types of fires.
Final Thoughts
The Crans-Montana fire is shocking because of the scale of the loss of life. However, history shows that it should not be surprising. The combination of factors – ignition source, low ceilings with insulation, high occupant numbers and a lack of regulatory oversight – mirror previous disasters in other countries.
Looking Ahead
This blog is the first in a series of four. Subsequent blogs will highlight:
- What a safe nightclub should look like
- Compliance vs. reality: how do we close the gap?
- Fire protection systems and human behaviour