MIAMI — Standing alongside his three children, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra addressed the public Friday for the first time since a fire devastated his home, expressing gratitude for what he termed “truly incredible” support in the wake of the incident.
The fire engulfed Spoelstra’s residence early Thursday around 4:30 a.m. His children, Santiago, Dante, and Ruby, were at their mother’s place during the incident, and fortunately, there were no injuries reported.
«Material things in the house can be replaced,» Spoelstra remarked before the Miami game against the Charlotte Hornets. «And if they can’t be, what significance does it hold? This is what truly matters: family, those closest to us, and our dog was safe as well, thank God. We’re just so thankful. We’re thankful that everyone is safe and in a good situation.»
The reason for the fire is still being investigated. Spoelstra mentioned that the Heat had offered him time off to handle personal issues, but he chose to continue working.
«The kids were eager to attend the game tonight,» Spoelstra stated. «So, I thought if they wanted to be there, I should be working.»
Spoelstra was airborne when the fire ignited, returning home with the Heat from a game in Denver that Wednesday night. According to county records, the fire was reported at approximately 4:36 a.m. Thursday, while the Heat’s charter flight landed in Miami around 35 minutes later.
When Spoelstra arrived at his property, multiple fire trucks were present at the fully engaged scene. He was observed walking around the exterior of the house in the pre-dawn hours, at times stopping to hold his head in apparent disbelief as flames illuminated the night sky.
«I want to extend my gratitude to the first responders, police officers, and firefighters. They were remarkable,» Spoelstra declared. «Although they couldn’t save our house, they managed to prevent further damage that could have endangered the entire neighborhood. They were incredibly kind in their efforts to extinguish the flames.»
Spoelstra shared that the Heat community has provided unwavering support, and even some of the players’ wives and girlfriends are already busy trying to assist the children — who attended school as usual on Friday — with some surprises.
«Perhaps some toys that were lost in the fire,» Spoelstra mentioned. «They’ve been fantastic.»
Drone imagery revealed that a significant portion of the home was reduced to ashes and debris. Some teams remained on-site, monitoring for hotspots until early Thursday afternoon, approximately eight hours after the fire was reported.
«Ladder trucks were deployed to combat the fire from above,» Miami-Dade Fire Rescue stated in a release. «The extreme heat and a partial roof collapse necessitated a defensive strategy, combatting the fire from the exterior to prioritize firefighter safety. … The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.»
Spoelstra, who has been part of the Heat organization since 1995 and head coach since 2008, purchased the five-bedroom house in December 2023. He had done considerable renovations on the property after acquiring it.
He finalized an agreement last month to take on the role of coach for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
«I just want to express my gratitude for this immense support,» Spoelstra stated, with his sons beside him and his daughter in his lap. «The South Florida community has been absolutely incredible. People reaching out, eager to help. This has obviously presented unique challenges for our family, but the Spoelstras are strong.»
