MIAMI-DADE, Fla. — The multi-million-dollar property owned by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was deemed a total loss after a fire last month, and investigators say the damage likely began in or near an outdoor sauna.
The home was empty when the fire broke out. For over a month, fire investigators have been working to narrow down the cause, and early findings point toward an electrical or mechanical malfunction in the sauna area.
The fire happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 6. According to newly released information, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper assigned to a security detail was the first person to call for help. Fire crews arrived at 4:36 a.m., but the home was already fully engulfed.
Investigators believe the fire may have been smoldering undetected for some time before it grew.
Some neighbors reported smelling a faint burning odor around 7 p.m. the night before, though they didn’t see anything unusual. No one was home at the time, it was dark, and the property is secluded by a fence and tree line.
A fire incident report issued Friday states:
“The area of origin was located in the northwest corner of the property, in or adjacent to the sauna. The specific heat source responsible for ignition remains undetermined. Therefore, the fire is currently classified as ‘underdetermined’ pending further laboratory analysis.”
The report says there was no evidence of accelerants or human involvement and rules out weather as a contributing factor. Some items collected from the scene are still being processed.
No injuries were reported.
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