After Swiss Alps New Year's Eve bar fire, a look at some of America's worst nightclub and bar fires

January 2, 2026

TL;DR

A New Year's Eve fire in a Swiss Alps bar killed about 40 people and injured 115.
The blaze is believed to have started from sparklers on Champagne bottles igniting a wooden ceiling.
A rapid fire spread and a subsequent crowd surge trapped many victims.
The disaster is compared to past U.S. nightclub fires: the Station nightclub fire (100 deaths), the Happy Land Social Club fire (87 deaths), and the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire (492 deaths).
Past U.S. fires were caused by pyrotechnics, arson, flammable materials, overcrowding, and blocked or improperly functioning exits.
These past tragedies led to significant changes in fire safety regulations and building codes.

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