CHARGES

The man who died was a tenant in an illegal secondary suite, Wright confirmed, but said he would not release the identities of the two individuals charged for now.

“Eventually they will be named,” he confirmed. “At this time I won’t be talking about the case at all, or any of the evidence, because it is before the courts.”

Wright said these charges should serve as a strong warning to other local landlords who may have illegal secondary suites in any building they may own, particularly if those suites do not follow regulations to ensure tenant safety as outlined in the Safety Codes Act.

“I would like to emphasize it is the owner’s responsibility to understand the laws,” he warned. “It’s not the fire department’s. It is not the tenant’s. It is the owners of these rental properties, and this is a very serious situation.”

Last July the Lethbridge Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 600 block of 5 Street South. Upon arrival, crews were notified there was a possible victim and his dog inside. After entering the structure, fire crews discovered the victim and the dog both deceased.

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Herald file photo by Greg Bobinec A makeshift memorial lines a fence at the scene of a fire that took the life of a resident and his dog in July of last year. @GBobinecHerald

Herald photo by Ian Martens Chief Fire Marshal Heath Wright speaks to reporters after charges were laid in relation to a fatal fire at an illegal secondary suite in July 2019. @IMartens Herald