A memorial for the victims of a deadly fire at a New Year's party in Switzerland has gone up in flames, likely sparked by candles left unattended, according to police. The memorial, a makeshift tribute to the 41 lives lost and 115 injured in the January 1st fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, was a scene of devastation. It was laden with flowers, candles, and messages of condolence, set up near the site of the tragedy. The fire broke out shortly before 6 am on Sunday, as captured by Swiss public broadcaster RTS. Images showed the blackened top of a white, igloo-like tarpaulin, erected to protect the memorial from the weather, visible behind a white screen and police tape. Despite the rapid intervention of emergency services, the fire caused significant damage, with several commemorative objects destroyed by the flames. A large book of remembrance, filled with messages left by visitors over the past five weeks, was saved. Police are investigating the cause of the blaze, which started near candles on a table in the center of the memorial, ruling out third-party involvement. The fire at Le Constellation is believed to have started when champagne bottles with sparklers were raised too close to the ceiling, igniting sound insulation foam. The French couple who co-owned the bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are facing charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Crans-Montana's head of public safety and a former local fire safety officer are also under criminal investigation. The memorial's destruction has sparked consternation among family members, who had been harshly criticizing the authorities' handling of the crisis and the investigation. Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur Brodard was among the victims, expressed shock, emphasizing the municipality's responsibility to ensure a secure memorial.
