On 1 January, a fire ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, an Alpine ski resort in Switzerland. The blaze killed 40 people, mostly teens and young adults, and injured 116. The youngest victim was 14 years old. The tragedy shocked the nation and made international headlines. One of the two bar owners, Jacques Moretti, was arrested and is being investigated for manslaughter by negligence. The owners deny wrongdoing but said they are “devastated and overwhelmed with grief” and promise full cooperation with the investigation. The fire started in the bar’s crowded basement after sparklers attached to champagne bottles touched the ceiling, which had soundproofing foam. A viral photo showed a female server sitting on a colleague’s shoulders with sparklers in both hands just before the fire began. She was among those who died. Authorities found alarming safety flaws. The mayor of Crans-Montana admitted no safety inspections were done at the bar since 2019, despite local laws requiring annual checks. Lawyers for victims’ families accused investigators of delaying collecting crucial evidence and said the owners deleted social media content that could aid the probe. The tragedy has deeply affected people across Switzerland, highlighting serious gaps in fire safety rules. Thousands of clubs and bars nearby are now under strict new checks. The nation held a day of mourning and a memorial ceremony attended by European leaders. Kenzo Ronnow, a university student in Lausanne, said, “It could have been me,” reflecting the fears many feel when visiting nightspots with similar sparkler displays. The incident has sparked urgent calls for safety reforms to prevent such disasters anywhere else.