CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – A fire destroyed Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s home early Thursday, and authorities said more than 20 units were dispatched, but efforts to save the building were futile.
Spoelstra was not home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured. A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that no one was inside the home when the fire broke out around 4:30 a.m.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because county officials have not released details.
Officials say an investigation into the cause of the fire has begun. These investigations can sometimes take several weeks.
Spoelstra and the Heat played in Denver on Wednesday night, but the charter flight back to Miami didn’t land until 5:11 a.m.
Spoelstra arrived at the home shortly after the plane landed, and several firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. As the fire continued, the man was seen walking around outside the property, stopping occasionally to hold his head in his hands in disbelief.
Drone footage taken by Miami’s CBS affiliate WFOR showed that at least most of the house was reduced to charred rubble.
More than three hours after the first fire engines arrived, smoke could still be seen rising in parts of the property, but by then authorities said the blaze was under control.
Fire officials said the fire had flames “as high as trees,” and crews on the ground and in the air extinguished the fire, the battalion chief said in a brief news conference. The fire was contained on Spoelstra’s property, with no damage to neighboring homes, county officials said, adding that privacy fences and tree cover hampered initial efforts to extinguish the fire.
Spoelstra purchased the five-bedroom home in December 2023, according to property records. After purchasing, Mr. Spoelstra had done extensive work on the property.
Spoelstra is in his 18th season as the Heat’s head coach, having joined the team as video coordinator in 1995. He signed a deal last month to coach the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The Heat were scheduled to have Thursday off and then play the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
