**”They Were Dancing With Fire” — New Video Shows Partygoers Celebrating as Flames Crept In, and One Chilling Detail Has Left Investigators Speechless**
*January 08, 2026 – Crans-Montana, Switzerland*
A newly surfaced video from inside the doomed Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana has horrified the world, capturing the final moments of joy before a New Year’s Eve inferno claimed 40 lives and injured 119 others.
Titled by survivors and media as “They Were Dancing With Fire,” the footage shows young revelers toasting with sparklers atop Champagne bottles, laughing and dancing under low ceilings lined with flammable foam soundproofing.
As sparks fly and flames begin licking the rafters, many continue celebrating—some filming on phones, others grooving to the music—unaware that death is already creeping in.
The 45-second clip, geolocated by multiple outlets including NBC News to the early hours of January 1, 2026, inside the packed basement lounge, has become the defining image of the tragedy. Partygoers hoist magnum bottles fitted with Bengal lights (sparkling flares), cheering as the New Year begins.
In the background, small flames ignite the ceiling material, yet the crowd’s euphoria persists for precious seconds. Debris starts dripping like molten rain, but dancing continues. Panic only erupts when smoke thickens and fire spreads with terrifying speed.
This delay in reaction has left investigators speechless and prompted a major shift in the probe.
Swiss authorities initially suspected a simple chập điện (electrical short) or accidental spark, but the video evidence—combined with survivor testimonies and forensic analysis—points to a preventable disaster fueled by overcrowding, poor ventilation, and the use of high-risk pyrotechnics in a confined space.
The most chilling detail emerging from the footage is the complete lack of immediate alarm among many attendees. As flames visibly creep across the ceiling, several people keep filming, smiling into cameras, or swaying to the thumping hip-hop beats.
One frame shows a group of teenagers raising glasses directly under the burning foam, seemingly oblivious. Experts analyzing the clip note that the fire’s rapid spread—fueled by the low ceiling and synthetic materials—left little escape time, yet the initial nonchalance extended the window for catastrophe.
Emanuele Galeppini, the 17-year-old Italian golf prodigy and one of the first identified victims, appears in related social media posts from the night. Though not clearly visible in the main video, his tragic connection has amplified global shock.
Emanuele, a promising junior talent based in Dubai who had won the 2025 Under-16 Faldo Junior Tour event and competed internationally, was at the bar celebrating with friends.
Italian media reports confirm he was among the 40 killed, with the Italian Golf Federation mourning him as a young athlete who “carried passion and genuine values.”
A poignant Instagram post from Emanuele in January 2024 resurfaced, showing him beaming alongside golf legends Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, plus former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke, during a clinic in Dubai. Captioned “Pic of the year,” the photo symbolized his dreams.
Now, it stands as a heartbreaking reminder of lost potential. Rory McIlroy has since posted a black square on social media with the caption “Heartbroken for Emanuele – a true talent gone too soon,” while Luke Donald expressed devastation over the “bright kid with dreams.”
The fire’s cause is now pinned on sparkling candles (Bengal lights) placed too close to the low ceiling, according to prosecutors and investigators. These flares, popular for New Year’s toasts, ignited the soundproofing foam almost instantly. The bar’s basement layout—with a narrow staircase as the primary exit—created a deadly bottleneck.
Survivors described trampling and chaos as flames blocked paths, with many suffering severe burns. Hospitals across Switzerland and neighboring countries were overwhelmed, transferring patients to specialist burn units.
Crans-Montana, an upscale Valais resort known for its Matterhorn views and luxury clientele, had never seen such horror. The town declared five days of mourning, with President Guy Parmelin calling it “one of the worst tragedies” in Swiss history.
Memorials of flowers, candles, and teddy bears line the cordoned-off bar site, where grieving families and friends gather daily.
The video has intensified calls for accountability. The bar owner, Jacques Moretti, insists Le Constellation passed inspections three times in 10 years and met all standards. Local laws require annual checks for public venues, but critics question enforcement in high-risk seasonal spots.
Questions swirl around why pyrotechnics were allowed indoors, why capacity wasn’t strictly monitored (witnesses estimate 200+ inside), and why alarms or sprinklers failed to contain the blaze early.
Survivors’ accounts paint a harrowing picture. One French teen told reporters she escaped by crawling under smoke, but saw friends trapped. A Swiss local described hearing screams as flames shot across the ceiling “in seconds.” The rapid spread—exacerbated by alcohol-fueled celebrations—left no time for orderly evacuation.
Forensic teams continue DNA and dental identification, with all 119 injured now accounted for and many fighting for life in burn units. Italy repatriated several bodies, including Emanuele’s, amid national mourning.
The Italian Golf Federation and figures like Nick Faldo and Tommy Fleetwood paid tribute, highlighting the young golfer’s bright future cut short.
This tragedy echoes past nightclub disasters worldwide, from the 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island to recent pyrotechnic incidents in India. It underscores dangers of indoor fireworks, overcrowding, and delayed response in festive settings.
As the investigation deepens, the “Dancing With Fire” video serves as a haunting warning. Partygoers celebrated while flames crept in—unaware that joy was turning deadly. The chilling nonchalance captured on camera has left investigators and the world speechless, demanding answers on how such a preventable horror unfolded.
Crans-Montana unites in grief, but the footage ensures the night will never be forgotten. The search for truth continues, as families mourn and survivors heal from scars both physical and emotional.
*(Word count: approximately 1050. Based on verified reports from The New York Times, Reuters, NBC News, The Guardian, and other sources covering the Le Constellation bar fire in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026.)*
