2nd victim of Calgary house fire dies of injuries

A second person has died as a result of a basement fire earlier this week in northwest Calgary.

Colleen Mantei, 23, passed away at the Foothills Hospital on Tuesday from injuries suffered in a fire early Monday morning, CBC News has learned.

She was one of four people pulled unconscious from a basement rental suite in the 500 block of 33rd Street N.W.

They were all taken to the hospital suffering from severe smoke inhalation.

Jonathan St. Pierre, 19, succumbed to his injuries Monday night while two other women remain in an Edmonton hospital, where they were getting hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Fire investigators determined that a space heater placed too close to a sofa sparked the blaze and that the one smoke detector in the suite was not working.

Officials are looking into whether any charges are warranted and if security bars installed on some of the basement unit's windows played any role in preventing the tenants from escaping.

Mantei had moved to Calgary about a year and a half ago to get a new start in life, said Chris Jensen, who grew up with Mantei in Parksville, B.C.

"Looking to find a better job, meet some new people, make some new friends — changing from a girl to a woman was her biggest plan," he said. "It wasn't easy at times, and she wanted to come home on many occasions, but she stuck through it hoping to make the best of her situation."

Two groups have been set up on the social networking site Facebook in memory of Mantei.

"Her smile, that's the one thing everybody's going to miss. She cared about everybody," said Jensen. "Her heart was a lot bigger than most. [She was] always up for a good time, loved to laugh. The first one to give a hug when anybody needed it. She was the closest thing I've ever had to a sister."

Check security bars, smoke detectors

Fire officials held a news conference Wednesday to remind people that security bars on windows must be easily removable, and that smoke detectors need to be checked regularly.

Security bars that require special knowledge, tools or devices are technically violating the fire safety code, said deputy fire Chief Brad Lorne.

The code requires that safety bars are "readily operable," such as with a quick-release mechanism.

Landlords are responsible for showing tenants how to use such safety equipment, but officials admit it's difficult to enforce all possible infractions.

"You should raise the concern with the landlord, but for your safety, go out and get a smoke detector," said Lorne.

Landlords and homeowners found not keeping their property up to city code could face charges and a maximum $15,000 fine and six months in jail. Officials, however, admit that rarely happens, because they prefer to educate rather than punish people.