CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Fire destroyed a home owned by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra early Thursday, with officials saying more than 20 units were dispatched in what became a futile effort to save the property.
Spoelstra was not at home when the fire broke out and no injuries were reported. Fire officials said “the house was vacant” when the fire broke out around 4:30 a.m
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, officials said. In some cases, these investigations can take weeks.
Spoelstra and the Heat played in Denver on Wednesday night and their charter flight back to Miami didn’t land until 5:11 a.m.
Spoelstra arrived at the home shortly after the plane landed as several firefighters worked to contain the blaze. He was seen walking around the outside of the building as the fire raged, at times stopping and holding his head in disbelief.
Drone footage taken by CBS affiliate WFOR in Miami showed much of the house reduced to at least charred rubble.
More than three hours after the first fire trucks arrived, smoke could still be seen above parts of the property, but officials declared the fire under control around that time.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the fire – with flames “as big as the trees,” Battalion Chief Victoria Byrd said in a brief news briefing – was being fought with crews both on the ground and in the air. The fire was contained to Spoelstra’s property and no nearby homes were damaged, Byrd said, adding that a privacy fence and tree cover hampered initial firefighting efforts.
“Our units came in and did a great job,” Byrd said.
Property records show Spoelstra purchased the five-bedroom home in December 2023. After the purchase he carried out extensive work on the property.
Spoelstra is in his 18th season as head coach of the Heat, an organization he originally joined in 1995 as video coordinator. He finalized a deal last month to as coach of the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
The Heat were scheduled to be off on Thursday and will host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
