Girl dies one day after fire that claimed father

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A 12-year-old girl died today, one day after she was badly injured in a fire that killed her father, a family friend says.

“˜”˜Now she’s in heaven with her dad,’’ said Richard Leftley, who described himself as the best friend of Ken Einboden, who died yesterday. He told a gathered crowd of reporters outside The Hospital for Sick Children at around 1 p.m. that Mr. Einboden’s daughter, Britney, had just died.

“˜”˜Britney today, she went peacefully, on her own terms.’’

Toronto Fire Services responded to a call just before 3 p.m. yesterday for a fire that had trapped two people at 14 Kemp Square in the Jane St. and Lawrence Ave. West area. When firefighters arrived, heavy black smoke was pouring out of the building, said District Chief Stephan Powell.

Firefighters found the two victims, the 35-year-old father and his 12-year-old daughter, on the second floor of the home with no vital signs. Efforts to revive the man were not successful and he was pronounced dead.

Mr. Leftley said Mr. Einboden had recently lost his job, and his wife is on maternity leave. He asked for the public’s help: “˜”˜If anyone out there is able to help out, we’d be greatly appreciative.’’

Mr. Einboden had carried his infant out of the home, and went back inside to look for his daughter.

Said Mr. Leftley: “He ran into the house. He saved baby Kendra. But with all the help with Sick Kids and all the prayers, his other daughter, Britney, just moments ago passed away.’’

“Today, God took back one of his angels, Britney. She was a great kid, she worked hard at school. Yesterday, I lost my best friend in Ken. Today, my daughters lost their best friend. This is hard for their mother and hard for their family. This is a great tragedy. Because of hard times, Kenny lost his job, and his UI had run out. The baby is only 5 1/2 months old and the mother is on maternity leave right now. The rented the place and they had no renter’s insurance. The clothes that’s on their backs right now is all they have left to their names.”

The girl’s mother and an infant boy were also in the home when the fire broke out, but were able to escape, suffering minor injuries.

The fire was put out around 5 p.m.

Toronto Police Staff Sgt. Richard McKeown said he expects the Fire Marshal’s investigation to be “quite lengthy.”

Media reports also pointed to the kitchen as the origin of the fire, but investigators have not confirmed this.