On January 1, 2026, a devastating fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, during a crowded New Year's Eve party. The incident killed 40 people and injured 119 others, many with severe burns.Swiss authorities, including Valais prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud, stated that the fire was most likely caused by sparklers (fountain candles or flares) attached to champagne bottles being held too close to the ceiling. Witnesses described staff carrying bottles aloft—sometimes with one employee on another's shoulders—bringing the lit sparklers centimeters from the acoustic foam or wooden ceiling, which rapidly ignited. This led to a fast-spreading "flashover" fire, exacerbated by the sound-insulating materials.The attached X post from Breaking911 shares newly emerged footage showing the chaos inside: flames spreading quickly across the ceiling while music continues playing, many young partygoers keep dancing, filming on their phones, or lingering near the fire, apparently underestimating the danger. No immediate evacuation appears to occur, contributing to the high casualty count.Public reactions on X highlight generational concerns, with comments criticizing a lack of situational awareness—often linked to social media habits—where people prioritize recording over fleeing. Others note the tragic irony of survival instincts failing in a modern, dopamine-driven crowd. Experts and commenters emphasize the need for stricter venue protocols: automatic music shutoff, lights on, and staff-directed evacuations in emergencies.This tragedy has prompted national mourning in Switzerland, with flags at half-mast and ongoing victim identification. Investigations continue, but sparklers remain the primary suspected cause, per multiple reports from outlets like The Guardian, Reuters, AP, and Swiss authorities.