Cause of store fire that killed two still being investigated
Two women died in fire at botánica on Saturday.
WESTPALM BEACH — Looking into the storefront windows of the St. Anne & Vierge Miracle Botánica in a strip mall on Belvedere Road, soot covers many of the once bright colored candles and fabrics inside.
In the West Palm Beach alleyway behind the store, piles of burnt chairs, drapes, fabric flowers and red playing cards litter the street, all remnants from a fire that killed two women Saturday.
Maria Bonny, 36, and Roselyne Lindor-Sanon, 31, died after a fire broke out in the back room of the botánica, just east of Interstate 95. Bonny was found dead at the scene and Lindor-Sanon died soon after at St. Mary’s Medical Center from her injuries.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, according to West Palm Beach Fire Rescue. On Saturday, Fire Rescue Capt. Brian Walker said the store held candles, incense, oil and statues — “a lot of combustibles.”
State records show Bonny has been the owner of the b o t á n i c a s i n c e 2 0 1 4 . I n March, Bonny opened a second location in Belle Glade, Saint Anne & Kouzin Zaka Botánica.
Bonny was also a certified nursing assistant, but it’s unclear if she was employed anywhere.
One woman who was getting her hair done at the Yoki Beauty Salon next door to the botánica Saturday said she heard “a big explosion” and saw a woman with severe burns run outside.
“She was so burned her clothes were not even on her,” Evie Gonzalez said.
L i ndor- S a non’s f a mily declined to comment for the story.
While the fire was not huge, Walker said about 45 firefighters were at the scene and closed down Belvedere Road for more than two hours Saturday afternoon.