Victims named in FMB deadly fire
A human body that was discovered and unrecognizable last Monday from the wreckage of a duplex fire at the corner of Anchorage Street and Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach that happened Sunday night has since been identified.
On Friday, Capt. Ron Martin of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District confirmed the identity of the victim was Joanne Finney, who resided in one side of the duplex and had been reported missing since the fire erupted.
Martin said the fire investigation was longer than first anticipated and eventually made an identification of the victim off of dental records. The cause of the fire is ‘undetermined’ and the fire report remains incomplete.
“I am almost certain at this point the detonation of the propane tank outside was a secondary event to the fire that occurred to the structure,” he said.
Fire officials reported Finney resided with multiple pets, but they were unable to make contact with her after the fire. Many friends, neighbors and family expected the worse, saying they believed Finney would be the type of person that would go back into the blazing home to rescue her pets. A dog corpse was found in the fire remains.
“She will be missed,” said Tara Finney, Joanne’s sister. “I was happy to meet all of her friends that were part of her life. She seemed to touch a lot of people’s lives.”
Loved ones have arranged a standing memorial for Finney at the fire site. The tribute includes flowers, an American Flag (since the fire occurred during Memorial Day weekend) and Turtle Time flags. She was a long-time volunteer in the state-permitted monitoring nonprofit organization.
“Jo Finney had been with Turtle Time for many years. She was a passionate advocate for the conservation of sea turtlesand for all creatures,” said Turtle Time Founder Eve Haverfield. “She was one-of-a-kindspirited, compassionate. Her mantra was ‘Keep your love-light shining.’ We should all do that.”
Finney was also an island activist and spoke out against harmful freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River that damages our estuaries. Beach resident John Heim called her his best friend and mentor to becoming an activist. A clean water rally to be held at Crescent Family Beach Park on July 12 has now been named in her honor – The Jo Finney Clean Water Rally.
“Jo will be honored this day by all of Fort Myers Beach as the rally goes on in her name,” he wrote in a letter to the editor that can be read in full on page 4. “We will celebrate the idea of Jo Finney as a human being and a Florida conservationist and role model for clean water to us all. This woman meant the world to me personally.”
Krystal Rose sent a letter to the editor from Cooper Mountain, Oregon. She described Finney as a “fierce warrior whose primary weapon was love” and someone who will be dearly missed.
“We are deeply touched and share in sorrow her death, in deep and reverent gratitude, joy for her life. We join all of you who are remembering, mourning and celebrating Joanne, and we offer our deep condolences,” she wrote.
Finney’s duplex neighbors, Carol Wilkins and Paulie Harmon, were transported to a local hospital after the incident. Both were discharged last week. According to Martin, Harmon is staying at a local hotel that donated a room and Carol was reported to be in stable condition at Tampa General Hospital Regional Burn Unit.
On Monday, Registered Yoga Instructor Cristina Denegre held a beachside all-levels yoga class fundraiser to benefit Carol and Paulie at Newton Park access. According to Denegre, the class had 15 attendees and a total of $1,120 was raised after she matched in-class donations.
On Tuesday, The Beach Whale and The Gulfshore Grill/Cottage Bar held an all-day Block Party Benefit for the two residents with raffles, silent auctions, live music and food and drink specials.
For Finney, there will be a memorial service at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church at 3751 Estero Blvd. on Sunday. June 14. The time of the event is still being planned.