The moment a sparkler almost set Swiss bar on fire six years before inferno killed 40 people at the same venue

This is the chilling moment a staff member at a Swiss ski bar engulfed in flames begged revelers on New Year’s Eve 2019 to keep sparklers away from the roof foam.

The warning came six years before the inferno at Le Constellation nightclub that killed 40 people and injured 116, many with serious, third-degree burns.

In the video, the waiter was heard shouting “Watch out for the foam, watch out for the foam” as the sparkler in the bottle came dangerously close to the ceiling.

The footage was sent to Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) by a guest who was present at the 2019 evening of Le Constellation in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana.

‘I remember, we were very close to the ceiling and even the waiter made that comment because of that.’ […] “As an adult, he realized there might be a risk,” he said.

Swiss authorities said the massive fire that engulfed the bar on New Year’s Eve was caused by sparklers being held too close to the ceiling, which was covered with flammable, sound-proof foam panels.

Investigators believe the incident quickly escalated into a ‘flash’, with much of the venue likely catching fire within seconds, making escape almost impossible.

A criminal investigation has been launched against the French couple Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica, who run the bar, which has not undergone any security checks, investigations or inspections for five years.

The footage was sent to Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) by a guest of Le Constellation in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The bar’s owners are suspected of manslaughter, causing bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence.

Police are examining whether the soundproof material used on the ceiling of the bar, which is thought to have caught fire near firecrackers, complies with security measures.

Former staff also claimed safety standards at the club were poor, with fire extinguishers kept under lock and key and the bar’s emergency exit frequently locked.

On Saturday, multiple media outlets in France and Belgium reported that Mr. Moretti, originally from the Mediterranean island of Corsica, was well known to French authorities.

In 2005, he was involved in a kidnapping plot in the French Alpine region of Savoie, near Crans-Montana, and was imprisoned.

Le Parisien reports: ‘According to our information, Jacques Moretti is no stranger to the French justice system.

‘He is known for pimping cases, as well as kidnapping and imprisonment, dating back nearly two decades. He was imprisoned in Savoie.’

Radio network RTL, quoting its own legal source, reported: ‘The Corsican-born man in his sixties was imprisoned in Savoie in 2005 for his involvement in pimping, fraud, kidnapping and false arrest.’

There was no initial response to statements from lawyers representing Mr. Moretti.

On Friday, he was questioned by Swiss prosecutors along with his wife, Jessica Moretti, who is in her 40s.

Both are currently free for assisting the judicial authorities in their investigation.

They stated that ‘in case of criminal liability’ they would open an investigation for the crimes of ‘negligent arson’ and ‘negligent homicide’.

Meanwhile, the French couple have not been officially charged and are free to travel.

Swiss chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said: ‘Everything indicates that the fire started when incandescent candles placed in champagne bottles were placed too close to the ceiling, leading to a rapid and widespread conflagration.’

Mr Moretti claimed his pub ‘complies with all safety regulations’ despite being inspected by health and safety officers ‘only three times in ten years’.

Article 8 of the local fire prevention code states that inspections must be carried out ‘every year in buildings open to the public or presenting special risks’.

Mr. Moretti, who owns three businesses around Crans-Montana, was not at the Constellation the night of the fire, but his wife was there and her arm was burned.

Jacques Moretti (pictured right), now in his sixties, was imprisoned in Savoie in 2005 for his involvement in pimping, fraud, kidnapping and false arrest.

The owners of Le Constellation, built in 1977, requested in 2015 that the space be expanded to include an outdoor, covered terrace, which was granted.

After the development was completed, inspectors went in to assess, but they focused on the exterior, not what had changed inside.

When asked at the press conference that the bar had not been checked for five years, Crans-Montana mayor Nicolas Feraud said: ‘I have no answer for you today.’

“We are very sorry about this and I know how difficult this will be for the families,” he added.

Referring to whether council members will be questioned as part of the criminal investigation launched by Swiss prosecutors, he said that ‘it is up to the judges to know whether we will participate in this case’.

‘We believe that the city of Crans-Montana is also a victim of this case,’ he added.

He told reporters that authorities would ‘take immediate action’ if they became aware of any safety concerns regarding the bar.

‘I would rather have these people come to my door and shout and say: ‘It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.’

He added: ‘It is very easy to come and cry and shout at us now, but what about before?’

Six years later, partygoers were carrying champagne bottles filled with sparklers; apparently just minutes before the fire on New Year’s Eve.

Six years later, a waiter at Le Constellation held a sparkler in his hand as he sat on a colleague’s shoulders, moments before the deadly fire that engulfed the bar on January 1.

It was determined that two of the 40 victims who died in the fire that broke out in a bar in Switzerland, where young sisters were celebrating the new year, died along with a musician who was performing as a DJ while the flames were growing.

Swiss citizens Alicia and Diana Gunst, aged 15 and 14, died along with French producer Matéo Lesguer and 37 others in the inferno at Le Constellation bar in the early hours of January 1.

Swiss authorities say more than half of the 40 victims were 18 or younger.

While 83 of the 116 people injured remained in hospital as of Monday afternoon, some were still fighting for their lives.

It is believed that the fire broke out around 1.30am when waiters shook champagne bottles filled with fireworks near the ceiling.

40 people from seven different countries were killed: 26 of them were between the ages of 14 and 18.

Some were burned beyond recognition and were only identified using DNA analysis.

Among the dead were 10 Swiss men aged between 16 and 31; 11 Swiss women aged 14 to 24; A 24-year-old woman with dual Swiss-French citizenship; Three Italian boys aged 16 and two Italian girls aged 15 and 16, and five French boys aged 14 to 39.

two French women, aged 33 and 26; A 15-year-old girl with triple British-French-Israeli citizenship; A 16-year-old boy with dual Italian-UAE citizenship; An 18-year-old Romanian boy; A 17-year-old Belgian girl; Additionally, the identities of a 22-year-old Portuguese woman and an 18-year-old Turkish boy were identified.

Funerals are taking place this week, and five of the six Italian victims’ bodies were repatriated on Monday afternoon.

Following the fire that broke out in the ‘Le Constellation’ bar during New Year’s celebrations, killing 40 people and injuring 119 people, flowers and candles were displayed in memory of the victims at a makeshift memorial ceremony.

Firefighters from regional fire and rescue service Sapeur-Pompiers de Sierre gathered to pay tribute to the victims of the deadly blaze

Charlotte Niddam, 15, was working as a babysitter in the resort town of Crans-Montana. His family confirmed his death on social media

Sisters Alicia and Diana Gunst, aged 15 and 14, were reported missing and have since been confirmed dead in the New Year’s inferno.

Among the victims was 15-year-old Charlotte Niddam, who spent time growing up in Britain, attending the private Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and the Free Jewish School in north-west London.

The teenager had British, Israeli and French citizenship and was identified with the help of Israeli emergency service organization Zaka.

Crans-Montana’s website listed her as a babysitter for hire at the resort.

Her family confirmed her death in a post on social media on Sunday, writing: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful daughter and sister Charlotte. Details regarding funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.’

The post stated that Charlotte’s funeral is expected to be held in Paris later this week.

In her tribute, Bushey United Synagogue Rebbetzen Jacqueline Feldman said: ‘The world would not be as bright and beautiful without Charlotte and her magnificent smile, and we will all miss her so much.’

16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard was confirmed to be among the dead by his heartbroken mother Laetitia in a video on social media.

The last time Laetitia heard from her son was around midnight, when he sent her a message saying ‘Happy New Year, mom.’

Showing photos of his son to reporters in Crans-Montana, he was among worried parents expressing hope that his son might be found alive.

“Our Arthur is now off to party in heaven,” he said, visibly shaken, in the video shared online on Saturday.

‘We can begin to grieve knowing that he is at peace and in the light.’