Ron Rivera, Family Uninjured After Fire at Charlotte Home

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and his family are uninjured after a fire at his south Charlotte home sent them scurrying outside in the wee hours the morning of Jan. 5. It was later revealed that the fire was caused due to the installation of the fireplace.

Continue for updates.

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Improper Fireplace Installation Caused Fire

Thursday, Jan. 15

ESPN's David Newton provided details obtained from the Charlotte Fire Department announcing the cause of the fire at the Rivera home:

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The improper installation of a modular fireplace or a material defect was the cause of the fire that caused $500,000 in damage to the house of Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera on Jan. 5.

The Charlotte Fire Department released its final report on Thursday. The report did not vary from the initial report that said the fire was accidental and began in the wall that contained the fireplace. It also reaffirmed there was no evidence of foul play or criminal activity.

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It began in the wall in the downstairs master bedroom occupied by Rivera and his wife, Stephanie. The wall contains a modular fireplace that was built directly onto the wooden subfloor.

A missing base plate and a hairline fracture in the fireplace were discovered during the investigation.

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Rivera Family Escapes House Fire Uninjured

Monday, Jan. 5 

Rivera told NBC Charlotte that he smelled smoke and soon began hearing fire alarms going off in the home around 4 a.m. The Charlotte Fire Department was able to extinguish the flames, though it required 55 firefighters to do so. There have not been any reported injuries.

Richard DeVayne of WCNC.com and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer spoke with Rivera at the scene:

ESPN's David Newton provided comments from a fire department spokesman and the Panthers speaking on the incident:

Rivera also expressed his gratitude to those who expressed concern:

The Panthers head coach spoke more about it on Monday, via Steve Reed of the Associated Press and Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com:

A WSOC-TV report indicated Rivera, his wife, his two brothers and their wives were in the home at the time the fire began. Rescue crews have not yet been able to determine a cause.

The fire came nearly two days after Rivera led his Panthers to a 27-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals in their NFC Wild Card Game. It was his first career playoff win as a head coach and the franchise's first in nearly a decade. The Panthers were eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round. 

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