Windsor fire officials are reminding bar and restaurant owners to strictly follow fire safety rules in the wake of a deadly New Year’s Eve bar fire in Switzerland that killed 40 people and injured more than 100 others.
John Smith, acting chief fire prevention officer with Windsor Fire and Rescue Services, says any places where people gather, including bars and restaurants, fall under strict fire code requirements, particularly when combustible materials are involved.
“Any time that we have any kind of combustible material that's in those places where people gather for various reasons, we want to make sure that they are beating standards,” Smith said, explaining they conduct fire safety tests to ensure businesses use materials that don't burn quickly or spread flames easily. “That’s so you don't get a fire that would grow out of control in a short period of time.”
Swiss investigators believe sparkling candles atop champagne bottles used during celebrations ignited untreated ceiling materials. The fire happened at Le Constellation bar in the resort town of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland. Authorities say safety inspections had not been carried out for several years before the fire.
Smith says open flames inside Windsor bars and restaurants are generally not allowed.
“Any open flame is never going to be approved other than if it's a kitchen appliance that is already covered by a suppression system and ventilation hood,” he said. “We don't allow open flames. There are very few exceptions to that, and we want to be notified if they are using an open flame for something like a fondue or something at a table.”
He adds that Windsor does not approve of open flame use during public gatherings or assemblies.
In Detroit, fire officials echo similar concerns following the Swiss tragedy. The Detroit Fire Department says open flames, including sparklers, fireworks and novelty ignition devices, are prohibited inside bars and restaurants unless specifically approved by the fire marshal.
“Fire safety regulations are not arbitrary — they are built on hard lessons learned from tragedies like this,” said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms in a statement. “Business owners have a responsibility to do everything possible to protect the people who walk through their doors.”
Detroit Fire Marshal Don Thomas says enforcement is paired with education.
“Compliance with the Detroit City Code is essential to public safety,” Thomas said, noting that inspectors work with owners to address issues before emergencies happen.
Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the bar’s managers. Local officials acknowledged inspections had not taken place since 2019, a lapse now under scrutiny as investigators work to determine how the fire spread so quickly.
Windsor fire officials say inspections are a routine part of operating a licensed business. Smith says the fire department makes annual efforts to inspect establishments, especially those serving food or operating as public assembly spaces.
“The fire department yearly makes every attempt to get into those establishments to make sure that they are meeting fire code requirements based on what the occupancy is being used as,” he said.
Requirements vary depending on occupancy type and capacity, Smith explains, and can range from full sprinkler systems to smoke and heat detection or fire extinguishers. Clear exits are also critical.
“Means of egress to the exit are always clear,” Smith said. “The exit doors are only supposed to have one locking mechanism. They should never have any special knowledge to unlock an exit to the outside.”
Smith urges business owners to consult the Ontario Building Code and notify the fire department before making any interior changes that could affect fire safety.
“If there's any interior changes to your occupancy, you should notify the fire department or ensure that it's not going to contravene the fire code,” he said.
He says the Swiss fire is a reminder of past tragedies, including the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people.
“North America has already been exposed to a situation like this, so we are very aware, and we do look out for any contraventions that we will address before something terrible happens,” Smith said.
He adds that staff training and fire safety plans are key.
“When you have any kind of establishment that you have people assembling, make sure that the staff, the business owners, make sure they're aware of the requirements under the fire code,” Smith said. “Research whether your establishment, based on the type and occupancy number, requires a fire safety plan.”