CALGARY -- Ten days after a space heater caught fire in a northwest basement, suite killing three tenants and critically injuring a fourth person, the two landlords responsible for the home have been charged.

Akif and Bushra Amin each face seven charges stemming from breaches of the Public Health Act and Minimum Housing and Health Standard as a result of the Jan. 26 fire at 515 33 St. N.W. that killed Jonathan St. Pierre, 19, his ex-girlfriend Tiffany Cox, 19 and Colleen Mantei, 23.

"I was sort of expecting it," said Akif Amin, who expressed sympathy for the victims' families yesterday.

The charges include failure to ensure housing premises were in safe condition; failure to ensure required smoke alarms were operational and in good repair at all time; and failure to ensure that security bars provided on the bedroom windows could be opened from the inside without the use of tools or special knowledge.

Charges under the public health act can be subject up to a penalty of $2,000 per violation.

For Cox's stepfather Ernie Halliday, who raised her alongside her mom Mitzi, the potential $14,000 in fines is a joke.

"That's less than what it's costing to bury my daughter," he said, adding he wants criminal charges slapped against the Amins.

"It didn't have to happen -- she fought to get out, she fought to pull those bars off.

"The bars were bent, her arms are all scratched up on the inside where she was reaching through."

The charges didn't come as a shock to St. Pierre's mother, Lisa St. Pierre, either, but she said she hopes the incident will prevent future tragedies.

"I'm thankful that other landlords will look at this and learn -- that it will raise awareness," she said.

"I just don't want to blame anyone -- my son wouldn't blame anyone."

But news of the charges came as a sad surprise for Rob Hannigan, the tenant who has rented the upstairs suite of the house for more than five years.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to charges being laid against (Akif)," said Hannigan, adding Akif is a good landlord and is always willing to help with anything the tenants need. "He has a family, just like the parents of the people who perished."

There were no working batteries in the basement suite's smoke detector and safety bars covering the windows prevented a flight to safety for the four people trapped inside.

Arson unit Det. Scott Sampson said criminal charges against the landlords are not being considered at this time.