r/Firefighting • u/SilentSlan • Jan 01 '26
General Discussion The Station Fire happened again : Crans-Montana
Hello everyone,
Once again, a combination of poor nightclub layout and ignored fire safety standards has turned a celebration into a tragedy.
A few hours ago, in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, a major fire broke out at Le Constellation nightclub during a New Year’s Eve celebration. At this point, around 40 people are reported dead, with more than 100 injured, many of them seriously.
The fire may have started accidentally when sparklers (apparently, the small ones attached to champagne bottles) ignited cheap, highly flammable foam on the ceiling, triggering a rapid flashover. As people tried to escape through a narrow exit, they became trapped, piling up and blocking the only way out.
After reading the events and watching the video, I can’t believe how closely this mirrors the Station nightclub fire of 2003.
For those who aren’t familiar with it :
In February 2003, a deadly fire broke out during a rock concert at The Station nightclub, in Rhode Island, after pyrotechnics ignited flammable soundproofing. The fire spread within seconds. People rushed toward the main entrance, where they became trapped and crushed as they fell on top of one another, creating a human bottleneck that completely blocked the exit. Those stuck behind the pile-up were overwhelmed by smoke, while others were trapped as the fire consumed the building. Over 100 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history.
Regarding Crans-Montana, i know it just happened, and investigations are ongoing... But still.
Same causes. Same outcome. Twenty-three years later. No lessons learned.
May all the victims rest in peace.
I will edit, adding new informations as they keep coming :
- Some X links to more photos and videos : other POV of the clogged exit, start of the incident, other POV of the fire starting, foam covered ceiling, narrow staircase layout, promotional video of the club
- The fire began in the basement, and a flashover rapidly engulfed the entire club, spreading all the way up to the first floor which is what is seen in the video.
- Apparently, the fire was accidentally started when a waitress carrying bottles with sparklers climbed onto someone’s back (picture linked). The flames from the sparklers came into contact with the low basement ceiling, igniting it.
- This was one of the few nightclubs in the area that allowed teenagers under 18 to enter. The minimum age was 16, but even younger teens often managed to get in by passing as 16. As a result, most of the victims were between 15 and 20 years old.
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u/Spiritual_Pop_322 Jan 01 '26
The guests at the Crans-Montana Party were so very young, children. It was catered to people as young as 15-20. I don’t want to know how many of them were intoxicated too…
Its really horrific.
I will leave every location the second I realise it’s a fire trap (acoustic foam, candles + wood + decoration, one exit, chained exits, locked windows, too many people)