Disbelief after drinks sparklers that started Swiss ski resort fire that killed 40 were seen STILL being used a day later in wooden bar across the border

A holidaymaker was left in disbelief when she saw sparklers being used at a ski resort’s wooden bar in Switzerland, just days after a fire killed at least 40 people and injured more than 100.

Exclusive footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows revelers happily dancing shoulder to shoulder at the popular Schatzi bar in Ishgl, Austria.

Just a few feet from the wooden ceiling of the bar in the Austrian Alps, ice fountain candles can be seen burning in three glasses on the counter.

The bar is located just across the Swiss border; At least 40 people died and 119 people were injured in a fire that broke out on New Year’s Eve at Le Constellation bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais.

The devastating fire, which affected the bar’s foamy acoustic insulation, is believed to have been started by a fountain candle held aloft over a champagne bottle.

A Brit, who wished to remain anonymous, was at the Schatzi bar while holidaying at the ski resort on Friday, January 2, and told the Mail he was ‘horrified’ when he saw staff using hand-held fireworks.

‘We are on holiday in the ski resort Ishgl, very close to the Austrian border with Switzerland, we even went to Switzerland by skiing and last night [January 2] “We entered a bar called Schatzi bar and were horrified to see that the bar people were using sparklers in their drinks, that it was a bar with a wooden roof and was packed,” he said.

‘We couldn’t believe this was happening, days after the tragic incident that killed 40 people at a Swiss ski resort.’

A spokesperson for the pub told the Mail it had stopped using fountain candles as a ‘precautionary measure’ since January 3, but insisted the building met the required fire resistance and safety standards.

Just a few feet from the wooden ceiling of the bar in the Austrian Alps, lit sparklers can be seen in three glasses on the counter

The bar is under the same ownership as Elizabeth Arthotel, a family-run, adults-only luxury hotel with a rooftop bar and infinity pool.

Schatzi bar, where women wearing short gingham dresses dance on the bar, is described on the hotel’s website as ‘one of Ischgl’s hottest après-ski venues’.

The spokesman added: ‘First of all, everyone at Elizabeth Arthotel and Schatzi Bar is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events in neighboring Switzerland. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected.

‘In light of the incident in Crans-Montana and within the scope of the measures taken, Schatzi Bar stopped the use of sparklers as a precaution; This went into effect on January 3.

The decision reflects sensitivity to public concerns and respect for the seriousness of the recent tragedy and does not indicate any safety issues at the venue.

‘Guest safety is and always has been our top priority. Schatzi Bar operates in full compliance with Austrian fire safety regulations, which are regularly independently inspected.

‘The venue is located at street level and has numerous clearly marked exits, extensive fire safety equipment and strict capacity limits that are actively monitored by trained security staff.

‘Regarding the space, the building – including ceiling materials – meets all required fire resistance and safety standards for commercial accommodation in Austria.

‘Timber ceilings are common in Alpine architecture and are subject to special treatments and certification to ensure they meet fire safety requirements.

‘We take any concerns raised by guests or the public extremely seriously and will continue to review all aspects of our operations to ensure the highest possible safety standards are maintained.’

The hotel is just across the Swiss border, and at least 40 people were killed and 119 injured when a New Year’s Eve fire broke out at Le Constellation bar (pictured) in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana.

A photo has emerged showing the moment champagne sparklers set fire to materials on the ceiling of a Swiss nightclub.

The bar’s Facebook and Instagram pages shared a post on Boxing Day, days before the Swiss tragedy, showing a member of staff jumping around with lit fountain candles in each hand.

Bottle sparklers are ignited at each end of the bar and a line of Jagerbombs line the bar.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the youngest victim of the New Year’s Day ski resort fire was a 14-year-old Swiss girl, as police identified 16 more victims.

40 people lost their lives in the fire that broke out in the Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana ski village, minutes after the clock struck 12 during New Year’s celebrations.

Nine of the 16 new victims identified were children under the age of 18. The Cantonal Police of Valais listed the people it confirmed were victims.

A spokesman said: ‘They are four Swiss women aged 18, two women aged 15 and 14 and six Swiss men aged 31, 20, 18, 17 and two Swiss men aged 16, two Italians aged 16, a dual national (Italy and United Arab Emirates) aged 16, an 18-year-old Romanian, a 39-year-old Frenchman and an 18-year-old Turkish man.’

Police identified a total of 24 people who died in the tragedy.

The victims were identified by the Disaster Victim Identification team (DVI) and the Forensic Medicine Institute.

Investigations are continuing to identify the 16 people who lost their lives in the fire.

Police said that “out of respect for the families, no further information will be given at this time” about these 16 new identities, whose names have not yet been disclosed to the public.

The fire grew when sparklers used in celebrations ignited the foam sound insulation on the ceiling.

Eight victims, two of whom were 16-year-old Swiss citizens, had previously been identified by police.

They were four Swiss women aged 16, 21, 22 and 24, and four Swiss men aged 16, two aged 18 and one aged 21.

While candles are lit at the scene, parents search for their missing children.

Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, 42, searched in vain for news about her eldest son Arthur, 16.

A firefighter displays flowers at a makeshift memorial near the scene of a fire that ripped through the bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations

He carried a photo of the boy on his phone and asked people if they had seen him.

He said: ‘He was looking forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve with his school friends at the resort and in this pub. They had planned ahead and reserved a table.

‘Only one of the 11 people at the table was found, the others are missing.

‘If my son is alive, he is alone in the hospital. Even if he’s in the morgue, because now you have to be able to think clearly after over 30 hours, I don’t know which morgue he’s in, I can’t be around him.’

He showed her a touching final message from Le Constellation at midnight, wishing her ‘Happy Birthday, Mum’, and she responded with a greeting of her own.