January 2026
Prepared by the EBA Prevention Committee
Approved by the EBA Executive Committee
In response to recent fatal indoor fire tragedies in Europe, the European Burns Association issues the following call to action.
To: Heads of State and Government of all European Member States, national and local legislators, and all citizens of Europe
The recent tragedy in Crans-Montana, where at least 40 people lost their lives and more than 115 were seriously injured in a fire during New Year’s celebrations, has shocked Europe and the wider world. The blaze rapidly engulfed the crowded Le Constellation bar and is believed to have been triggered by indoor sparklers or fireworks coming into contact with flammable materials, causing an almost instantaneous and deadly flashover. Many victims were young people and minors; dozens remain in critical condition in specialised burn units across multiple countries.
This catastrophe is not an isolated event. Over recent decades, repeated incidents linked to indoor pyrotechnics and unsafe celebratory practices have caused devastating loss of life in public venues across Europe — including nightclub fires in Volendam (2001), Bucharest (2015), and Kocani (2025).
In the last 50 years alone, over 550 people have died and more than 1,500 have sustained severe, life-changing burn injuries in similar incidents in Europe.
These tragedies share a common cause: the use of pyrotechnic devices in enclosed spaces where people gather, often without adequate risk assessment, fire suppression systems, or safe emergency exits.
While pyrotechnic effects are embedded in cultural and celebratory traditions, we must not wait for the next tragedy to act. Safe alternatives exist, and together we can protect lives without compromising celebration.
Fire does not distinguish between celebration and catastrophe. Too many lives — particularly young lives — have been irrevocably altered by entirely preventable fire disasters in entertainment and social venues.
European policymakers must act decisively and collectively to ensure that future generations are protected.
The European Burns Association Prevention Committee stands ready to support national and European legislative efforts with expertise, evidence, and public-health guidance.
We owe it to the victims and their families — and to all citizens across Europe — to make this ban a reality.
This statement is circulated by the European Burns Association.
We invite individuals and organisations to support this initiative by signing the petition below.
Ban all indoor use of fireworks, sparklers, and pyrotechnics in public venues
👉 Click here to sign the petition
The European Burns Association (EBA) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1981 by burn specialists to foster European cooperation in burn care, focusing on prevention, research, education (nursing, rehab), disaster planning, and knowledge exchange through congresses and the European Burn Journal (EBJ). It connects professionals like doctors, nurses, and therapists to improve burn treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention standards across Europe, emphasizing collaboration and best practice dissemination.
🔗 More information: www.euroburn.org
📧 Contact: eba@congresscare.com
📧 Nadia Depetris (EBA President), email: nadia.depetris@gmail.com
📧 Mamta Shah (EBA Prevention Committee Chair), email: mamta.shah@manchester.ac.uk