New statements from witness and staff member Jessica Moretti have added a fresh layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation into the tragic Crans-Montana fire. Her testimony, delivered during a new round of questioning, has shed unexpected light not only on the environment inside the bar that night but also on certain images and videos circulating online, including the now-famous photograph featuring a mysterious helmet. According to Jessica, the helmet in question was not a piece of safety gear, nor was it related to any emergency personnel. Instead, she revealed that the object was a Dom Pérignon branded Champagne helmet, a promotional accessory worn by staff serving premium bottles during high-end nightlife service. The clarification has shifted the interpretation of several visuals that were previously regarded as ambiguous or suspicious, redirecting attention back to the timeline of events rather than symbolic assumptions about the photograph.

Jessica also confirmed a detail that investigators had long attempted to verify: the identity of the woman seen filming with a mobile phone in one of the circulated images. “It was me,” she admitted during the interview, noting that she had been standing behind Cyane, another staff member, at the time the image was captured. She explained that filming was commonplace during celebrations, particularly when patrons ordered luxury bottles that came with sparklers, lights, and branded theatrics. Her job that night included presenting and serving Dom Pérignon Champagne, which required her to move between tables where VIP clients were seated.

Her testimony continues by identifying the tables she was responsible for. According to Jessica, she served the tables belonging to Charles and Lucas — tables which appear in the top left corner of one of the early photographs taken before the situation deteriorated. She emphasized that service was routine at that stage of the night, and nothing suggested imminent danger. The venue was lively, crowded, loud, and filled with the typical energy of a New Year’s Eve celebration, an atmosphere that made the later outbreak of chaos even more devastating.

Perhaps the most critical part of her statement concerns the exact location where she claims the fire originated. Jessica told investigators that the flames first appeared in the area of tables 60 and 61, positioned lower in the layout and directly in front of the restroom entrance. Her description aligns with several accounts given by survivors who reported seeing smoke or flickers of light near the same area shortly before the fire spread uncontrollably. The identification of a specific ignition zone provides investigators with one of the clearer points on a timeline that has, until now, been filled with incomplete fragments. The fire’s rapid expansion left many witnesses uncertain about which direction it came from or what triggered it. Jessica’s account, although still being verified, contributes valuable spatial context.

Her disclosure about the Dom Pérignon helmet has also influenced the interpretation of other staff actions. Nightlife venues known for high-profile parties often use branded props, lighted accessories, and promotional gear, much of which resembles equipment that might appear unusual or out of place in an emergency. Investigators had previously considered whether the helmet might indicate an attempt at protection or evacuation, but Jessica clarified that it had no functional purpose beyond visual marketing. She further explained that such helmets are typically used during presentations of expensive bottles, in which staff pass through the venue carrying Champagne alongside sparklers or illuminated trays. This practice is well known in European nightlife settings, but to the public, especially after a tragedy, such elements easily become misinterpreted clues.

Jessica’s admission that she filmed part of the celebration on her phone has also prompted renewed interest in identifying whether the footage still exists and whether it contains anything relevant. She stated that the recording captured only routine service and did not include any part of the fire. Whether investigators have already retrieved her footage or are still in the process of collecting it remains undisclosed. Still, her acknowledgment gives authorities an additional line of inquiry, especially since every moment captured before the disaster may help reconstruct the environment and sequence of events inside the venue.

Her claim that she was tending to Charles and Lucas’s tables places her in a key position within the layout. Being located in the upper-left section means she had a vantage point facing both the bar and the corridor leading to the restrooms — the same general direction where she claims the fire started. If her recollection is precise, she may have had one of the clearest perspectives before smoke began obscuring visibility. Though she stated she did not witness the initial spark, she recalled that panic erupted immediately after someone shouted about flames near the lower section of the room, pointing toward tables 60 and 61.

The significance of identifying a probable ignition area cannot be overstated. Investigators have struggled to pinpoint the starting point because the fire spread quickly through flammable materials and overcrowded sections, making physical evidence difficult to isolate. Witness accounts, therefore, play an essential role in reconstructing the early moments. Jessica’s version is one of the few that provides a specific table number, giving investigators a reference point that aligns with several survivors’ directional estimations.

Her testimony also paints a clearer human picture of the moments before the catastrophe. She described the venue as packed with guests celebrating the final minutes of 2025. Staff were moving constantly, balancing trays, presenting Champagne, escorting VIP orders, and trying to maintain flow in a crowded space. She explained that the noise level was high, filled with music, cheering, and the anticipation of welcoming the new year. According to her, nothing appeared unusual. There were no electrical issues visible to staff, no disturbances among guests, no signs of smoke before the outbreak. The suddenness of the fire, she said, is what made the tragedy so overwhelming — one moment she was delivering Champagne; the next moment she was engulfed in screams and dense smoke.

Jessica also shared how quickly visibility dropped. Within seconds, thick smoke filled the area between the VIP tables and the restroom corridor. She recalled hearing crashing sounds, possibly furniture being overturned in panic. Her own escape was chaotic, involving trying to guide herself toward a side passage while coughing from the smoke. She admitted she lost sight of many of the people she had served earlier, including Charles and Lucas, and only learned of the full scale of the tragedy later from news reports and police briefings.

Her emotional state during the testimony was described as distressed but cooperative. Investigators acknowledged that her memory, like others, may contain distortions caused by stress, but emphasized that every detail — even uncertain ones — contributes to the larger effort of piecing together what happened. Her revelation regarding the Dom Pérignon helmet also dispelled a wave of speculation that had emerged online, proving that not every element captured in the chaotic visuals from the night had deeper meaning.

As authorities continue to piece together accounts, Jessica’s testimony is expected to be compared with surveillance reconstruction, survivor interviews, and physical evidence from the venue. Though not conclusive on its own, her narrative adds clarity to several ambiguous elements — the identity of the woman filming, the nature of the helmet, the tables she served, and a potential ignition point. In a case filled with confusion, speculation, and fragmented memories, such details help tighten the timeline and may eventually guide investigators closer to the truth.

Her cooperation also underscores the emotional burden carried by staff who were present that night. Like the victims and survivors, they too witnessed trauma and now navigate guilt, confusion, and fear. For Jessica, recounting the night in such detail was painful but necessary. Her words now form part of the official record of a tragedy that claimed countless lives, injured many more, and left a community — and a continent — searching for answers.