Crans-Montana, the fire brigade chief: impossible to do all the checks with just a few people
An audit in 2023 had shown 'serious deficiencies' in municipal security. Meanwhile, the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office will order a maxi medical-legal consultancy on Crans-Montana
There were 'only a few of them in the barracks, there was a lot of work' because they had 'three municipalities to manage' and therefore 'could not' carry out all the necessary checks. Although he and his team were not responsible for checking 'the materials', that was the responsibility of the municipal 'safety officers'.
Thus David Vocat, the chief of the Crans-Montana fire brigade, summoned yesterday as a person with information on the facts within the framework of the investigation by the Sion public prosecutor's office into the New Year's Eve tragedy at Le Constellation, in which 41 people died, mostly boys, and 115 were injured.
From what transpired, Vocat pointed out the difficulties encountered due to the lack of resources. Although for New Year's Eve they had 'set up a team to handle the bangers. Fifteen people in the barracks and some out and about'. Regarding Le Constellation, he said that when he arrived, 'there was a lot of smoke and injuries everywhere, like in a war. My thoughts are with the victims and their families'.
Crans-Montana, fire chief questioned today
This morning (yesterday. ndr) at the police station in Sion, Canton Valais, where Crans-Montana fire brigade chief David Vocat began questioning as a witness on the New Year's Eve fire in Switzerland, in which 41 people died. According to bar owner Jacques Moretti, Vocat was also present during the inspection of safety and fire prevention measures, which took place in January 2018.
The lawyers for the civil parties consider this hearing to be very important after the revelations of the Swiss television station Rts, which claims that there was an audit in 2023 indicating serious deficiencies in fire safety in the municipality.
