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.
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