A large fire broke out at a home registered to Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra early Thursday morning in Miami. No injuries were reported, but the structure suffered catastrophic damage. Firefighters responded quickly and contained the blaze without it spreading to neighboring properties.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was called to the scene around 4:30 a.m. local time after reports of a significant fire at the property. Upon arrival, firefighters observed two structures fully engulfed in flames, described as "tall as the trees," according to NBC Miami. The response involved more than 100 firefighters and twenty units, including a hazardous materials team.
Battalion Chief Victoria Byrd noted the challenges in accessing the site: "Due to the privacy wall and a lot of the tree cover, it was very difficult to access, with only one point of entry." Part of the home collapsed during the incident, prompting a shift to a "defensive attack" strategy. Crews fought the fire from both air and ground until it was extinguished.
Officials confirmed the home was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The Miami Heat had just returned from a four-game road trip, landing around 5 a.m. after facing the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Spoelstra arrived at the scene shortly after and was seen walking around outside as firefighters worked.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Video footage shared by Miami-Dade Fire shows extensive devastation inside the property. No other homes on the street were affected.