Mother to survive fire injuries, friend says
Four people were killed, including hospitalized woman’s mom and son
A victim of last week’s devastating fire on Gainsborough Road is still in hospital but is expected to survive, a close friend confirmed.
Dennis Kiriopoulos — a close friend of Arija Celeste Jansons, who was injured in a house fire that killed her mother, Jana Jansons; son, Kai, 6; and childhood friend Amanda Freimanis — said it was unclear whether Arija has suffered any longterm injuries. Matthew Zdybal, 31, also died in the fire.
“She has always welcomed me as a friend into her home. She is an extremely loving mother and literally did everything for her child,” Kiripopoulos said.
He also spoke about Arija’s mother, Jana, who died in the fire early on Jan. 29.
“She was just a kind and accepting person,” he said.
Several firefighters also sustained injuries fighting the blaze.
Jana was well known in the community. She often patronized local businesses and was seen getting around the area with the help of a walker she relied on after suffering a serious, life-changing fall just over a decade ago.
Jennifer Jones, who owns the Joy of Dance Centre near Danforth and Broadview avenues, has known the family for more than 20 years.
She met the Jansons back in 1999 when they both worked at University of Toronto’s Faculty of Physical Education and Health.
“Her family meant everything to her. Jana deeply loved her daughter and her grandson … They were very close,” she told toronto.com.
“Jana was a very special person. She was honest and she had a big heart.”
Aside from being good friends with the Jansons, Jones also has a special place in her heart for her daughter, Arija.
Jones felt a kinship with Arija, who loves movement, yoga and dance, and had taken a dance teacher’s training course at Joy of Dance.
She was also fond of Kai, who was in Grade 1 at Bowmore Road Junior and Senior Public School, calling him the “bright star of the family.”
Jones said she’d also met Freimanis on a number of occasions and knew her to be a kind, loyal friend who was always around and ready to help.
Kiriopoulos, along with Katharine Harrison and Marianna Mitrovic, are running a GoFundMe page in support of the victims involved in the fire.
The money will also be distributed to the 11 surviving victims, some whose homes were damaged in the blaze.
“There’s 11 people that are displaced, two homes that are completely destroyed, personal items that are completely destroyed, funerals and other things that need to be taken care of, let alone housing costs,” Kiriopoulos said.
Kiriopoulos also said that the money will likely help pay for a hotel for the father of the deceased six-year-old child, who has flown to Toronto from New York.
As of Monday evening, almost $39,000 has been raised.
“We’re happy that in less than 72 hours we’ve done that but if you take a look at where the need is at, we certainly haven’t raised anywhere near what will be needed to cover all these things,” Kiriopoulos told the Star.
Toronto fire told the Star the investigation is still underway as police, the OSN and fire investigators work in conjunction.
During Monday’s briefing, fire Chief Matthew Pegg gave his condolences to the victims of the fire.
“This is an unspeakable tragedy that impacts each of us deeply,” he said. “I’m very thankful that the injuries our firefighters sustained while working to rescue occupants and fight the fire were not life threatening and that we expect each to make a full recovery.”