NBA coach Erik Spoelstra thanks first responders after blaze destroys home

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s home was destroyed in a fire early Thursday morning, the cause of which has not yet been determined.

There was no one home when the house went up in flames long before sunrise; Spoelstra was returning to Miami from a game in Denver and his children were at their mother’s house.

Making his first comments since the fire before Miami’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Spoelstra thanked “amazing” first responders.

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“I want to give a shout out to the first responders, the police and the firefighters. They were amazing. They couldn’t save our house, but of course we saw things that could spread to the rest of the neighborhood. They were very gentle trying to put out the flames,” he said. “Things in the house, those can be changed. And if they can’t be changed, what does it really matter? That’s what really matters. Our family, our closest 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 matters, but he declined.

“The kids wanted to come to the game tonight,” Spoelstra said. “So I thought if they wanted to come to the game, I’d better work.”

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s house caught fire on November 6, 2025. (WSVN-TV)

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Spoelstra also thanked the “absolutely phenomenal” South Florida community for their “tremendous support.”

“People are reaching out, wanting to help. This has certainly been a uniquely challenging thing for our family, but the Spoelstras are resilient.”

The Heat broke the franchise record by scoring 53 points in the first quarter and won 126-108. “In a perfect world, I’d rather go home,” he said after the game.

Miami-Dade County fire officials said the fire was reported around 4:36 a.m. Spoelstra arrived at the scene shortly after the plane landed. Cameras allegedly showed Spoelstra coming towards the house and appearing distraught. WSVN-TV in Miami.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra speaks to the media during Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Firefighters initially focused on the garage of the multimillion-dollar home before flames began to spread throughout the property.

Ryan Gaydos of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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