Crans-Montana Mayor Investigated as Switzerland Bans Indoor Pyrotechnics

The legal firewall surrounding the Crans-Montana tragedy has crumbled. In a dramatic expansion of the criminal probe, prosecutors have now ensnared Mayor Nicolas Féraud, placing him under formal investigation for involuntary manslaughter. The Valais public prosecutor’s office confirmed on Monday that the investigation has widened to include five additional municipal figures, bringing the total number of suspects to nine. This is no longer just about a bar owner's negligence; the spotlight is now searing the highest levels of local government.

Alongside Mayor Féraud, the probe now targets a former municipal council member responsible for security, a former fire safety officer, and current public safety officials. They face grave charges: involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. The implications are immediate and severe. "The question now arises whether Mr. Féraud can continue to lead this municipality," stated Sebastien Fanti, a lawyer representing the victims' families, signaling a potential political collapse in the wake of the disaster. The officials are scheduled for interrogation between April 7 and 15, as investigators aggressively seek to apportion blame for the catastrophe that claimed 41 lives.

As of April 1, 2026, the party is officially over for indoor pyrotechnics in Switzerland. In a swift and decisive regulatory crackdown, the Intercantonal Authority for Technical Obstacles to Trade (AIET) has announced a blanket ban on pyrotechnic devices in all enclosed public spaces. This draconian measure is a direct response to the lethal catalyst of the Crans-Montana fire: champagne bottle sparklers that ignited sound insulation foam in the basement of Le Constellation.

"As of April 1, 2026, pyrotechnic articles will be prohibited in premises open to the public," the AIET declared, exercising its federally delegated power across all 26 cantons. While a comprehensive revision of Swiss fire protection regulations is underway—with a deadline extended to October 2027 to process over 11,000 technical comments—authorities refused to wait. The immediate prohibition underscores the urgency of the threat. Several cantons, including Geneva and Vaud, had already moved to ban these devices, but this federal ruling ensures there are no sanctuaries left for dangerous indoor displays.

A staggering four-year gap in safety oversight sits at the dark heart of this investigation. Public outrage erupted when local authorities admitted that Le Constellation bar had not undergone an obligatory fire and safety inspection since 2019. This glaring omission suggests a systemic collapse in municipal duty, directly implicating the officials now facing manslaughter charges. The bar was operating in a regulatory blind spot when disaster struck.

The AIET has signaled that the upcoming 2027 regulatory overhaul will prioritize "rules regarding the frequency and quality of inspections," but for the victims of Crans-Montana, this reform comes too late. The investigation has revealed that the fire started when sparklers were raised too close to the ceiling, igniting flammable insulation—a hazard that a competent inspection might have identified and mitigated. The failure to enforce annual checks has transformed a procedural error into a criminal liability, exposing the municipality to accusations of lethal negligence.

The human toll of the Le Constellation tragedy remains agonizingly high. While the legal machinery grinds forward, 58 survivors were still fighting for recovery in hospitals and rehabilitation clinics as of late February. The blaze, which claimed 41 lives—mostly teenagers—has left a permanent scar on the canton of Valais. "Since January 1, our canton has not been the same," declared Wallis President Mathias Reynard, describing a community that has been "profoundly shaken."

In a move to offer tangible support, the cantonal parliament is voting on the creation of a foundation endowed with 10 million Swiss francs ($12.8 million) to aid the victims and their families. However, financial aid cannot quell the demand for accountability. Lawyers representing the bereaved have welcomed the expanded probe, stating that families "desperately need" answers. As the April interrogation dates approach, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Valais, waiting to see if the justice system can deliver a verdict that matches the scale of this unprecedented loss.