In an unsettling scene that left one holidaymaker in disbelief, a ski resort bar in Austria was spotted using drink sparklers just days after a tragic fire in Switzerland claimed the lives of at least 40 people and injured over 100. The incident has raised serious safety concerns given the recent catastrophe.
Exclusive footage obtained by the Daily Mail captures the lively atmosphere at Schatzi bar in Ischgl, Austria, where patrons were seen dancing shoulder-to-shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the potential hazard. The footage revealed ice fountain candles flickering in three glasses on the bar counter, perilously close to the establishment’s wooden ceiling.
The bar’s location is strikingly close to the Swiss border, where a devastating New Year’s Eve blaze tore through Le Constellation bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana. This tragic incident in the Valais canton region resulted in at least 40 fatalities and 119 injuries, reportedly sparked by a fountain candle mounted on a Champagne bottle, igniting the bar’s foam acoustic insulation.
A British visitor at the Schatzi bar on January 2, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted her horror upon witnessing the staff using the handheld firework, particularly in light of the nearby Swiss tragedy. Her reaction underscores the gravity of maintaining safety protocols in such environments.
It is believed the devastating fire that swept across the bar’s foam acoustic insulation was started from a fountain candle held aloft on a Champagne bottle.
A Briton, who did not wish to be named, was inside the Schatzi bar on Friday, January 2, while on holiday in the ski resort and told the Mail she was ‘horrified’ to see staff using the handheld firework.
‘We are on holiday in the Austrian ski resort of Ishgl, very close to the Swiss border, in fact, we have skied over to Switzerland, and yesterday evening [January 2] we went into a bar called Schatzi bar and were horrified to see the bar people using sparklers in drinks with a wooden roof and packed bar full of people, ‘ she said.
‘We couldn’t believe this was happening days after the tragic event in the ski resort in Switzerland which killed 40 people.’
A spokesperson for the bar told the Mail it has stopped using fountain candles since January 3 as a ‘precautionary measure’ but stressed the building meets the required fire-resistance and safety standards.
Exclusive footage, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows revellers blissfully dancing shoulder-to-shoulder at the five-star Elizabeth Arthotel’s popular Schatzi bar, in Ishgl, Austria, where drinks sparklers can be seen on the counter
Ignited sparklers can be seen in three glasses on the counter, just metres from the Austrian Alps bar’s wooden ceiling
The bar comes under the same ownership as the luxury family-run adults-only Elizabeth Arthotel, which has a rooftop bar and infinity pool.
The Schatzi bar, where women in skimpy gingham outfits dance on the bar, is described on the hotel’s website as ‘one of Ischgl’s hottest après-ski locations’.
The spokesperson added: ‘First and foremost, everyone at the Elizabeth Arthotel and Schatzi Bar was deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events in neighbouring Switzerland. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected.
‘In light of the incident in Crans-Montana and out of an abundance of caution, Schatzi Bar has stopped the use of sparklers as a precautionary measure; this came into effect on 3rd January.
‘The decision reflects sensitivity to public concern and respect for the seriousness of the recent tragedy and does not indicate any safety issue at the venue.
‘Guest safety is, and has always been, our highest priority. Schatzi Bar operates in full compliance with Austrian fire safety regulations, which are independently inspected on a regular basis.
‘The venue is located at street level and features multiple clearly marked exits, extensive fire safety equipment throughout, and strict capacity limits that are actively monitored by trained security staff.
‘Regarding the venue itself, the building – including its ceiling materials – meets all required fire-resistance and safety standards for commercial hospitality premises in Austria.
‘Wooden ceilings are common in Alpine architecture and are subject to specific treatment and certification to ensure they meet fire safety requirements.’
The hotel is located just across the border from Switzerland, where a New Year’s Eve blaze inside the Le Constellation bar (pictured), located in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana, killed at least 40 people and injured 119 others
A photo appears to show the moment champagne sparklers set fire to material on the ceiling of the Swiss nightclub
The bar’s Facebook and Instagram pages shared a post on Boxing Day showing a staff member jumping with lit fountain candles in both hands, days before the Swiss tragedy.
Bottle sparklers are ignited at both ends of the bar with a row of Jagerbombs lined up on the bar top.
Meanwhile, a 14-year-old Swiss girl was today revealed as the youngest victim of the New Year’s Day ski resort fire as police identified 16 more victims.
Forty people were killed in the inferno in the ski village of Crans-Montana when a fire broke out at Le Constellation bar during New Year’s celebrations, minutes after the clock struck 12.
Nine of the 16 new victims identified were children under 18-years-old. Valais Cantonal Police has listed those it had now confirmed as victims.
A spokesperson said: ‘These are four Swiss women, aged 18, two aged 15 and 14, and six Swiss men aged 31, 20, 18, 17 and two aged 16, two Italians aged 16, a dual national (Italy and United Arab Emirates) aged 16, a Romanian aged 18, a Frenchman aged 39 and a Turkish man aged 18.’
Police have now identified a total of 24 people killed in the tragedy.
The victims were identified by the Disaster Victim Identification team (DVI) and the Institute of Legal Medicine.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the 16 remaining victims killed in the blaze.
Police said, ‘out of respect for the families, no further information will be released at this time’ about these 16 new identifications, who have not yet been publicly named.
The fire took hold after sparklers used in celebrations set foam soundproofing on the ceiling alight.
Previously, eight other victims were identified by police, two of whom were 16-year-old Swiss nationals.
These were four Swiss women aged 16, 21, 22 and 24 and four Swiss men aged 16, two aged 18, and one 21-year-old.
Parents have been searching for their missing children as tributes and candles were laid at the scene.
Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, 42, searched in vain for news of her eldest son, Arthur, aged 16.
A firefighter displays flowers at a makeshift memorial near the site of a fire that ripped through the bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations
She carried a photo of the boy on her phone, asking people if they had seen him.
She said: ‘He was looking forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve with his school friends at the resort and in this bar. They had made plans and reserved a table in advance.
‘Of the 11 people at that table only one has been found, and all the others are missing.
‘My son is alone in a hospital, if he’s alive. Even if he’s in a morgue, because by now you have to be able to think clearly after more than 30 hours, I don’t know which morgue, I can’t be by his side.’
She showed a poignant final message from him, sent from Le Constellation at midnight, wishing her ‘Happy New Year, mum’, to which she responded with her own greeting.
