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Crans-Montana fire: Dealing with the aftermath

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Urs Gilgen | Deborah Schlatter | Jürg Brandenberger
January 15, 2026

The first responders who attended the tragic fire at the Swiss nightclub in Crans-Montana recount what happened on the night. "It's hard to leave a person lying on the ground and say its too late for that one," says a fire service staffer. Now they, locals and witnesses are dealing with the aftermath, including feelings of guilt, loss, anger and trauma.

In Crans-Montana, a devastating fire in the Constellation Bar killed 40 people and injured 116. Fire chief David Vocat and first responder Bernardo, a kitchen worker, describe chaos, heroic rescues and the lasting trauma they face. 

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