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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s home was destroyed in a fire early Thursday morning, the cause of which has yet to be determined.
No one was home when the house was engulfed in flames well before sunrise — Spoelstra was returning to Miami from a game in Denver and his children were at their mother’s house.
In his first comments since the fire, before Miami’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Spoelstra thanked the “amazing” first responders.
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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. (Pierre Thomas/Imagn Images)
“I want to salute the first responders, the police officers and the firefighters. They were great. They weren’t able to save our house, but obviously we saw some things that could have spread to the rest of the neighborhood. They were very kind as they tried to put out all the flames,” he said. “Things in the house, those things can be replaced. And if they can’t be replaced, what does it really matter? That’s really what matters. Family, loved ones, our dog was safe too, thank God. We’re just grateful. We’re grateful that everyone is safe and in a great place.”
Spoelstra said the Heat offered him a few days off if he needed to deal with personal issues, and he declined.
“The kids wanted to come to the game tonight,” Spoelstra said. “So I figured if they wanted to come to the game, then I better work.”
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s home caught fire on November 6, 2025. (WSVN-TV)
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Spoelstra also thanked the “absolutely remarkable” South Florida community for their “massive support.”
“People are reaching out, wanting to help. This has obviously been a difficult thing for our family, but the Spoelstras are resilient.”
The Heat scored a franchise-record 53 points in the first quarter en route to their 126-108 victory. He then said that “in a perfect world, I would rather go home” after the match.
Miami-Dade County firefighters said the fire was reported around 4:36 a.m. Spoelstra arrived on scene shortly after the plane landed. Cameras showed Spoelstra approaching the house and looking distraught, according to WSVN-TV in Miami.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoffs on May 17, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Firefighters initially focused on the garage of the multi-million dollar home before flames began to spread throughout the property.
