TDSB trustee’s condition stable after fire
Posted March 18, 2013 5:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Toronto District School Board trustee’s condition is stable but her injuries are still critical following a fire at her home near High Park on the weekend.
Firefighters found Irene Atkinson suffering from smoke inhalation on the first floor of her home on High Park Boulevard, near Parkside Drive, around 7 p.m. Saturday.
Emergency crews performed CPR on Atkinson after she was pulled from the fire. She was then rushed to a hospital and placed on life support.
“The latest update available is that Irene is in stable condition,” TDSB spokesman Ryan Bird said Monday in an email. “Her family is very thankful for the outpouring of support and well wishes.”
The news was met with relief by friends and politicians such as Coun. Sarah Doucette and MPP for Parkdale-High Park Cheri DiNovo who took to Twitter with their reaction.
Earlier on Monday, Premier Kathleen Wynne, who is a friend and former school trustee herself, mentioned Atkinson during question period at Queen’s Park.
“She’s one of the strongest fighters I’ve ever met but she’s fighting for her own life right now. And I just want to say that my prayers and I believe the prayers of all of us are with her and her family.”
The fire had started in the kitchen and spread to a back stairwell.
A second person was rescued from the third-floor balcony and treated by paramedics at the scene.
