The proprietor of the bar where a tragic fire incident claimed the lives of 40 individuals and left 116 injured shared the harrowing experience of trying to save a waitress he considered family during the blaze. Jacques Moretti, deeply affected by what he described as the most devastating event in his life, hurried to Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana upon receiving a distress call from his wife Jessica in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Both Jacques and Jessica, now facing charges related to the incident, provided detailed testimonies to investigators before Jacques was placed in custody. According to BFM TV, Jacques recounted his efforts to resuscitate a waitress named Cyane P, whom he treated like his own child, alongside her boyfriend for over an hour until paramedics declared it was too late.
Expressing her grief, Jessica mentioned how Cyane was like a sister to her, recalling shared moments like Christmas celebrations. Jacques expressed his sense of responsibility for not being able to protect all the victims, labeling the tragedy as the most heart-wrenching experience of his life.
Reports suggest that the fire likely originated in the bar’s basement due to champagne bottles with party sparklers coming into contact with flammable insulation foam on the ceiling. The investigation is focusing on safety protocols at the bar, which the Morettis had renovated extensively after purchasing it in 2015.
Despite having fire extinguishers on the premises, there was no automatic sprinkler system, and staff had not received specific fire safety training. Jacques emphasized that they typically refused entry to individuals under 16 and required supervision for those aged 16 to 18, although mistakes could not be completely ruled out.
The tragic incident, which claimed lives from 19 different nationalities, including children as young as 14, has left a lasting impact on the community. Jacques’s father, Jean, acknowledged their responsibility for the event and expressed profound sorrow for the victims, highlighting the family’s deep emotional turmoil in the aftermath of the tragedy.