Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expressed gratitude for the “absolutely remarkable” support he has received since his Miami home was left destroyed by Thursday’s massive fire.
“Things in the house, those things can be replaced,” Spoelstra said Friday before Miami’s 126-108 win over the Hornets in his first public comments since the fire. “And if they can’t be replaced, who really cares? This is 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.”
The coach spoke along with his children Santiago, Dante and Ruby, who were fortunately with their mother when the fire broke out around 4:36 a.m. Thursday at the 5,700-square-foot single-family home in the area of Davis Road and Ponce De Leon Road.
“In a perfect world, I would like to go home,” he said.
The Heat offered the coach a few days off, but Spoelstra opted to return to the sidelines.
“The kids wanted to come to the game tonight,” Spoelstra said. “So I thought, if they want to come to the game, I better work.”
It took almost eight hours to extinguish the rapidly spreading fire, while firefighters initially searched for water. according to the Miami Herald.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Victoria Byrd said the fire was more difficult to contain because the property has a privacy well, the AP reported.
The cause of the first is still under investigation.
“I want to give a shoutout to the first responders, the police officers and the firefighters. They were amazing,” Spoelstra said. “They couldn’t save our house, but we definitely saw things that could have spread to the rest of the neighborhood. They were very nice as they tried to put out all the flames.”
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The house, which Spoelstra bought in December 2023 after his divorce from former Miami Heat dancer Nikki Sapp, is worth $6.6 million, according to him. Realtor.com.
It was renovated last year.
The house was largely reduced to hollow walls and ash, as much of the roof collapsed.
The 55-year-old Spoelstra, who had just landed with the Heat after a road loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday, was seen in a video being forced to watch the house burn.
“I would like to thank everyone for this overwhelming support,” said Spoelstra. “The South Florida community was absolutely remarkable. People reaching out and wanting to help. It was obviously something that presented a unique challenge for our family, but Spoelstras are resilient.”
Spoelstra has coached the Heat since 1995, winning two NBA championships while reaching the Finals six times. The franchise is off to a 5-4 start this season.
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