Swiss ski bar which erupted into New Year inferno used ‘same insulation foam as Grenfell’, ex-firefighting commander claims

The Swiss ski bar that catastrophically went up in flames on New Year’s Eve used ‘essentially the same’ insulation foam as Grenfell Tower, a former firefighter commander has claimed.

After viewing pictures and videos from inside Le Constellation, Steve Dudney said he believed the foam that could be seen igniting was a highly flammable material called polyurethane (PU).

A type of PU was among the materials in the walls of Grenfell Tower, and it was determined that this was one of the reasons why the 2017 fire spread so quickly and killed 72 residents.

Footage taken from the nightclub in the Crans-Montana ski resort shows flames billowing on foam padding glued to the ceiling and quickly spreading throughout the room.

On Friday, authorities said they suspected a sparkler in a champagne bottle after videos showed many of the burning trophies were kept in the basement.

Mr Dudney, who spent 31 years in the fire service, said he believed the material seen was typical soundproofing foam of the type often found in music studios.

he said Sky News: ‘There should be no place where there are uncontrolled naked flames. ‘Although this is a minor pyrotechnic, you effectively hold it against one of the most flammable materials we know of.’

Mr Dudney added: ‘In fact, the insulation behind the cladding at Grenfell Tower also contained PU foam and this foam broke and burned easily.’

After the foam ignited at one point in the basement, flames quickly spread throughout the room.

Approximately 72 people lost their lives in the fire that broke out in Grenfell Tower in June 2017, and it is known that the building’s insulation material helped the flames spread.

Foam turns into ‘liquid fire’ when set on fire, former fire chief Steve Dudney says

The former firefighter described PU as an ‘organic hydrocarbon’ and said very little heat was needed to set it on fire.

Watching footage of the moment the flames took over, Mr. Dudney says the foam quickly melted and burning droplets rained down into the basement.

He said: ‘You have falling fire, liquid fire; it turns into a liquid but still continues to burn, but it will land on anyone or anything underneath as a burning droplet.’

The insulation behind the cladding on the Grenfell tower is made of PIR foam, a material similar to PU but with different chemical properties that make it more fire resistant.

The cladding known as Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) around the high-rise building in North Kensington, West London, was the most criticized after it was revealed that it had failed fire safety tests for 12 years before the disaster.

It consists of plastic sandwiched between two very thin sheets of aluminum and is in place in many buildings across the country.

But the PIR foam also served as fuel for the flames, allowing them to quickly climb upwards.

PIR in Grenfell was also accused of producing large quantities of toxic gas which residents were breathing.

When PIR burns, acrid smoke containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide is produced.

The cladding around the Grenfell tower had some form of PU insulation behind it

Picture of debris falling from Grenfell tower as flames tore through the high-rise in 2017

Swiss prosecutors specifically listed foam glued to ceilings as one of the objects of the ongoing investigation.

Beatrice Pilloud, chief prosecutor for the Valais region, said: ‘We assume that the fire was caused by sparklers caught in champagne bottles. From there the ceiling caught fire.

‘We also look at what materials are used. Emergency exits, fire extinguishers and bar occupancy are also being investigated.’

He added: ‘Our investigation also includes foam in the ceiling.

‘It is not yet clear whether anyone will press charges. However, it is also possible to initiate an investigation for manslaughter.’

Daily Mail announced that the owners of Le Constellation are 49-year-old French couple Jacques Moretti and his 40-year-old wife Jessica.

Ms Moretti was inside the bar when the fire broke out and she suffered burns to her arm, and Mr Moretti broke his silence on Friday.

He said the couple could neither sleep nor eat after the disaster, but also claimed that all safety regulations were properly followed.

Flowers and candles were left outside Le Constellation in memory of the victims

Woman whose daughter is still missing holds a soft toy

A policeman stands outside the venue, which was cordoned off on Friday

Mr Moretti told Swiss channel 20 Minuten: ‘Everything was done according to the rules’ and claimed the club had been inspected three times in the last decade.

He emphasized that the couple, who are well-known names in the Swiss hospitality industry, are cooperating with the authorities and added: ‘We will do everything we can to help clarify the reasons.

‘We are doing everything we can. “Our lawyers are also involved.”

The couple has already been questioned by authorities and may face manslaughter charges, according to Valais region chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud.

Pilloud refused to say whether any action would be taken to stop the couple fleeing Switzerland, saying only: ‘There is no criminal liability at the moment.’

Stéphane Ganzer, Valais’ state councilor responsible for security, said he was not aware of any security shortcomings at the club.

However, he also admitted: ‘I don’t know when the municipality carried out the inspections.

‘We have not received any deficiency reports’ But we assume inspections have been carried out.’

Pilloud said that a team of 30 people was involved in the investigation, but the priority of the authorities was “to identify the deceased so that the families can begin the mourning process.”