‘He is a hero.’ Victim of devastating fire died after rushing back into burning home in attempt to save others

One of the victims who perished in a fire last week has been hailed as a hero for rushing back into the burning home in an attempt to rescue the remaining occupants.

Matthew Zdybal, 31, was one of four people who died in the devastating overnight fire at 95 Gainsborough Rd., on the coldest night of the year.

Jana Jansons, her seven-year-old grandson Kai, and family friend Amanda Freimanis also died. Only two people survived - the boy's mother Arija Celeste Jansons who suffered life-threatening injuries and their tenant, Jade Jacobis.

Jacobis said he and Zydbal barely made it out of the home, which was engulfed by flames at one point, when they heard frantic screaming."

Without hesitating, Zydbal ran back inside to follow the cries for help and try to save others from the flames.

He literally was already outside. I looked into his eyes and before I could even blink he already ran upstairs," Jacobis told the Star in an interview Wednesday.

Jacobis said Celeste Jansons and her son Kai were barricaded by heavy smoke, trapping them inside a room.

He's crazy because it only takes a crazy person to run in and save somebody without even thinking about your own self, your own life. He is a hero," Jacobis said.

He was everything that I wanted to be."

Three separate fundraising GoFundMe pages have been set up to help the families and victims.

The first page, Fundraiser for the tragic Gainsborough fire," was set up by family friend Dennis Kiriopoulos, Marianna Mitrovic and Katharine Harrison with the money being used to support all the victims of the fire.

Firefighters arriving at the scene reported that a person scrambled out of a second-floor window when they arrived. Organizers of the community fundraising page said Celeste Jansons survived the fire by jumping out of a window.

Arija herself did make a statement that if it wasn't for Matthew, she strongly believes she would've perished as well," Kiriopoulos said.

Celeste Jansons has been released from hospital, Kiriopoulos said.

She's obviously doing a lot better," Kiriopoulos told the Star on Wednesday.

She had lung scarring and lung damage. There was some superficial burns. So, clearly she's going to have some physical recovery and we will assume a very long term psychospiritual recovery."

Zdybal was visiting Jansons's home, which is near Gerrard Street East and Coxwell Avenue.

He was helping Celeste Jansons upgrade the home and patching up the kitchen ceiling. Because it was late, Zdybal slept on the couch that night, according to the account on the fundraising page. They all woke up to heavy black smoke.

Matthew ran back into the house to find seven-year-old Kai and try to get him out. He will forever be remembered as a hero," the posting reads.

Zdybal grew up in Port Credit and was active in extracurriculars like cheerleading and baseball, a Facebook memorial page detailed.

This is where funeral arrangements will be posted once they are made, the Zdybal family told the Star.

He was always willing to lend a helping hand and had a heart of gold that was evident to anyone he met in life," the page said.

Zdybal's family - including his father John, his two brothers Eric and Craig and his mother Nina - also said he was a dog lover and a donation will be made to Inugoya, a rescue service.

In lieu of flowers, they have asked for contributions to be made to the organization.

Jacobis said he met Zdybal on the dance floor at various events but says he was more than a party friend."

A lot of times you meet people on the dance floor and you don't think of anything but he treated me like a real friend," he said. He was like that to everyone. He was charismatic."

Jacobis called Freimanis, who also died in the fire, an important soul who won't be forgotten. Tributes on the fundraising say she was a DJ, who went by the stage name Amanda Panda."

She's a beautiful soul and she always felt like she wasn't seen and I want to make sure she's seen," Jacobis said.

Jacobis said that the entire community is shocked, following the tragedy.

People's lives have really been shaken up by this. This has really shocked the whole community because it wasn't just us who suffered, it was the neighbours also," he said.

My family is suffering, especially my mom. She has high blood pressure and she's doing all that she can."

The money from the community fundraiser will be distributed to the 11 surviving victims of the three homes damaged in the devastating blaze.

All three homes will be gutted because they have significant water and fire damage, according to an update on Facebook.

Through our GoFundMe we're taking pretty much everything into consideration - clothing for the victims, funeral for the deceased victims, housing or any other type of support as needed," Kiriopoulos said.

Organizers will be working with a lawyer who has volunteered to provide assistance to ensure cash flow does not get diluted.

As of Wednesday, more than $48,000 has been raised.

The other two fundraising pages were set up to help Celeste Jansons's family - one by Sandra Memenis, who identified herself as a cousin, and one by family friend Tyler MacDougall.

Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg and Toronto's Acting Fire Chief Jim Jessop will discuss the findings of an investigation into the fire, on Thursday.

Irelyne Lavery is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star. Reach her via email: ilavery@thestar.ca