Criminal case opened against managers of Swiss bar after deadly fire

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the two managers of a bar where a fire on New Year’s Day killed at least 40 people and injured more than 100.

The investigation includes the suspected offenses of negligent homicide, causing bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, the prosecutors’ office in the canton of Valais said in a statement on Saturday.

The likely cause of the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana was sparklers on bottles being carried too close to the ceiling, a preliminary investigation found. The blaze began about 1:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to the reports.

Stephane Ganzer, head of security in Valais, told Reuters news agency that the investigation would determine if the bar had undergone its annual building inspections, but that the town had not raised concerns or reported problems to the canton. The bar is owned by a French couple, according to media reports. 

Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans told a press conference in Crans Montana on Saturday that the first priority is providing the best possible medical care and identifying the deceased. Eight Swiss nationals among those killed were the first to be identified on Saturday, according to media reports.