Locked Service Door Raises Critical Questions in Deadly Bar Fire Investigation

A key testimony has added a troubling dimension to the investigation into the deadly fire at Le Constellation, after the bar’s owner acknowledged that a ground-floor service door was locked from the inside at the time of the incident.

During his hearing, Jacques Moretti confirmed that the service entrance — a potential emergency exit — was not accessible from the outside when the fire broke out. According to his statement, he arrived at the scene just minutes after the blaze had begun.

Moretti told investigators that upon reaching the building, he personally opened the locked service door from the exterior. What he found immediately behind it, he said, was deeply shocking: several lifeless bodies located in close proximity to the doorway.

The revelation has intensified scrutiny around the conditions inside the bar during the fire, particularly regarding evacuation routes and safety procedures. A locked internal door during an active fire raises urgent questions about whether patrons and staff were able to escape in time.

Moretti stated that he does not know why the door was obstructed or locked from the inside. This uncertainty has become a central focus of the investigation, as authorities work to determine whether the blockage was accidental, the result of negligence, or linked to broader safety failures.

Investigators are now examining the layout of the premises, including all exits and service entrances, to reconstruct the sequence of events. The positioning of the bodies near the service door suggests that some individuals may have attempted to flee through that route but were unable to do so.

Fire safety experts note that even a brief delay or blocked exit during a blaze can have fatal consequences, particularly in enclosed spaces such as bars or night venues. Smoke inhalation can overwhelm occupants within minutes, leaving little margin for error.

The owner’s testimony is expected to play a significant role as authorities assess potential responsibility. Determining who had control over the service door, and why it was locked at that critical moment, may influence the legal outcome of the case.

At this stage, investigators have not drawn final conclusions. The inquiry remains ongoing, with forensic analyses and witness statements still being reviewed. Officials are also evaluating whether the establishment complied with fire safety regulations in effect at the time.

As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on establishing clear facts surrounding the locked door and the circumstances that led to multiple deaths. The answers may prove decisive in understanding how the tragedy unfolded — and whether it could have been prevented.