Ultimate Blogging Challenge January 2026 - Crans-Montana

Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is known for its stunning mountain vistas, pristine ski slopes, and vibrant après-ski scene. In winter, the village attracts tourists from across Europe who come to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and the lively nightlife, from cozy chalets to bustling bars and nightclubs.

On New Year's Eve, the village was alive with revelers, both locals and tourists. Hundreds had initially gathered in Victoria Square, where DJs played loud music and put on a light show to cheer the crowd into the new year until 1 a.m. After that, as is customary in Crans-Montana, the party moved to bars and clubs.

Early on January 1st, 2026, a serious fire broke out at Le Constellation, a bar and nightclub in Crans-Montana, during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

At around 1:30 a.m., the fire was reported, and according to the police, the first emergency services arrived just two minutes later. Over 150 emergency personnel have been involved in the rescue efforts so far. Thirteen helicopters, a Rega Swiss air rescue aircraft, were deployed, and at least 42 ambulances responded to the scene.

Around 40 people tragically lost their lives, and approximately 115 were injured, many of them seriously.

Fire investigators will be busy determining the cause of this tragedy. Meanwhile, surviving eyewitnesses have shared what they observed.

Two women reported seeing a bartender lift a female colleague onto his shoulders while she was holding a bottle with a burning fountain candle. Apparently it was held too close to the ceiling, which then caught fire. Flames spread rapidly, and within seconds, the entire ceiling was engulfed.

Picture created using AI

A fountain candle, also called an ice fountain or bottle sparkler, is a type of indoor pyrotechnic that shoots sparks upward. Commonly used in nightclubs for VIP bottle service to create a festive, eye-catching display, these sparklers attach to a bottle’s neck with pincers. While visually exciting, they can be extremely dangerous indoors.

A tiny spark in the wrong place can become deadly in seconds, not because of the spark itself, but because of confined space, combustible materials, and human factors. Some reports suggest the blaze caused a flashover, a sudden, intense spread of fire that can appear almost explosive, occurring when heat builds up in a confined space and flammable gases ignite all at once.

The large number of burn victims created an extremely tense situation in hospitals across Switzerland and beyond. Many healthcare workers who would normally have had the day off came in to support their colleagues.

Definitive identification of the deceased,  among them guests aged between 16 and 26 from neighbouring countries such as Italy and France, is expected to take several weeks.

For this group of partygoers, and for their loved ones, the new year began in a devastating way.

For years, my husband has told our son Colin, “have fun, no bullshit,” meaning: enjoy yourself, but think before doing something that seems fun yet could be extremely dangerous. Climbing on train cars might be an obvious example, but sadly, this tragedy reminds us that even activities that feel safe, like celebrating in a popular club, can have unforeseen risks. 

Reports suggest that this establishment may have failed to check the ID of young guests in the past, that the interior contained extensive wooden elements, common in this region of Switzerland, along with potentially flammable foam used for sound insulation, and that the venue may have only one exit for around 300 people.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. In the midst of the chaos, the courage and dedication of firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and volunteers made an incredible difference, saving lives and caring for the injured under extreme pressure. Their tireless efforts are comforting proof of humanity in moments of crisis.