Fire catastrophe in Crans-Montana: Mayor Nicolas Féraud accuses the canton of Valais

The NZZ reports on the unfolding blame game following the devastating fire in Crans-Montana. Mayor Nicolas Féraud, in a lengthy 12-hour interrogation, has pointed fingers squarely at the canton of Valais, asserting that cantonal authorities failed in their supervisory role regarding fire safety inspections.

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The cantonal office for fire safety was the highest control authority, so I assume it had to ensure that the municipalities fulfilled the tasks assigned to them.

Féraud's testimony, detailed in RTS's access to hearing records, suggests that the canton's involvement in fire safety oversight was 'practically non-existent.' He claims that while the municipality submitted annual safety reports, they received no acknowledgment or feedback, implying a systemic failure at the cantonal level.

This narrative from Féraud challenges the initial focus on municipal negligence, suggesting a broader governmental failure. The article highlights the legal framework where municipalities are responsible for inspections, but cantons are tasked with 'supervision.' Féraud's defense hinges on the canton's alleged inaction, arguing that they should have ensured municipalities were meeting their obligations.

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The canton's involvement in fire safety tasks was practically non-existent.

While Féraud admits that more frequent inspections might not have prevented the fire, he notes that the responsibility for inspecting materials like flammable foam was only clarified after the disaster, at the canton's insistence. This perspective, unique to the local context, underscores a deep-seated tension between municipal and cantonal responsibilities in Switzerland, particularly in the French-speaking region, where such administrative disputes can have severe consequences.

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They were certainly aware of the general lack of controls in the canton, as there are at least 3500 public facilities, and the fire department office probably did not even receive a third of the reports on the annual inspections of these facilities.