Overview
- The New Year’s Day blaze at Le Constellation killed 40 people, including nine French nationals, and injured 116.
- Swiss prosecutors are investigating the owners for homicide by negligence, negligent bodily injury and negligent arson, while Paris has opened a mirror inquiry to support French families.
- In their first statement, Jacques and Jessica Moretti said they are devastated and pledged full cooperation with investigators, and they have not been placed in custody or under house arrest.
- Investigators say the fire started when “fountain” candles reached the basement ceiling, with acoustic foam on the ceiling believed to have ignited rapidly.
- Scrutiny has widened with former staff reporting prior fire-risk warnings, publicized past convictions of co‑manager Jacques Moretti in France, and a local admission that no safety inspections occurred from 2020 to 2025.