ZURICH - The French owner of the Swiss bar where 40 people died in a fire during New Year celebrations told investigators a service door had been locked from the inside.

Mr Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the Constellation bar in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana was

taken into custody

on Jan 9, as prosecutors investigate the tragedy.

Most of

the 40 people who died

were teenagers, and another 116 people were injured.

Mr Moretti told the Vallais public prosecutor’s office that he had found out about the locked door just after the deadly fire.

When he arrived at the scene, he forced open the door, according to excerpts from police reports published by several French and Swiss media outlets confirmed to AFP by a source close to the case.

Mr Moretti said he had found several people lying behind the door after opening it.

Initial findings suggest that the fire was

caused by sparklers

coming into contact with soundproofing foam installed on the ceiling of the establishment’s basement.

Questions are also being raised regarding the presence and accessibility of fire extinguishers, and whether the bar’s exits were in compliance with regulations.

“We always add a sparkler candle when we serve a bottle of wine in the dining room,” said...