If near misses are warning flares, the simplest step is to stop ignoring them. (Unsplash+/Levi Meir Clancy)

Why we ignore the warnings that could save us

Near-misses, when accidents are narrowly avoided, aren’t false alarms. They’re the most honest feedback a system gives: the future, whispering in the present.
People light candles outside Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Jan. 3, 2026, where a devastating fire left many people dead and injured during the New Year’s celebrations. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

What the New Year’s fire at a Swiss bar tells us about fire prevention

A spark may start a fire, but systems decide whether it becomes a disaster. The Swiss New Year’s blaze shows what happens when they fail.

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