Swiss authorities have said that a deadly fire at a ski resort bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, rapidly developed into a “flashover” – a dangerous phenomenon in which everything in a room ignites almost simultaneously.
The blaze quickly grew into a “flashover fire” after likely being caused by sparklers in champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling, Béatrice Pilloud, the attorney general for Valais canton, said Friday.
A flashover occurs when hot gases rise to the ceiling and spread across the walls, according to the US-based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The heat then intensifies until all combustible items in the room reach their ignition point and catch fire.
Authorities have also discussed “backdraft” as another potential contributing factor for why the fire spread so fast. A backdraft is an explosion that occurs when oxygen is introduced into a room full of hot gases, according to the NFPA.
As temperatures soar to as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, even firefighters in full protective gear are unlikely to survive, NFPA said.
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