French nightclubs closed over fire safety concerns following deadly Swiss club blaze

Several French nightclubs have been shuttered as a result of sweeping fire inspections in the wake of a deadly blaze at a Swiss venue on New Year's Eve. 

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire, which ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana - which sits just 30 miles from the French border - during the early hours of January 1, killing 40 people and injuring a further 100.

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The venue's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, were arrested on January 9 under suspicion of "negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence". Jessica was placed under house arrest while Jacques was initially held in custody, but he has since been released on bail, Sky News reports.

According to The Connexion, there has been an increase in audits across France since mid-January, following the Interior Ministry's urging of prefectures to ensure nightclubs and late-night bars comply with fire safety regulations.

In Rennes, Brittany, five venues were inspected between January 17 - 18 by prefecture officials and fire services, with four ordered to close for violations like "blocked exits and inadequate safety equipment," including Ty Koz — a cocktail bar located within a 16th-century timber building in the city centre.

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Lyon's Javoo was issued with an emergency closure order after a surprise inspection found “numerous serious failings,” including the unauthorised use of shisha pipes within the venue, and flammable materials being stored close to electric equipment. The city's mayor has claimed that the inspection was not connected to the Crans-Montana tragedy, and was planned beforehand. 

A number of bars across France have also pledged to ban sparklers, with the owner of Brittany's Le Tramplin writing in a statement seen by The Metro earlier this month: "We are unable to remain indifferent to the tragedy in Switzerland, and we have decided that there will no longer be any illuminated fountains at Le Tremplin."

"We will replace them with LED [light emitting diode] fountains, which pose no risk to our customers," he continued.

[Via: The Connexion]

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on X