Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera’s home damaged in fire

Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera’s home in Charlotte, N.C., was heavily damaged from a fire early Monday morning but no one was injured in the blaze, a Charlotte Fire Department spokesman said during a news conference.

The fire started around 1 a.m. PST and left the two-story, 7,000-square-foot home uninhabitable, Capt. Rob Brisley said. The home’s alarm system notified the family of the fire, and everyone in the house managed to get out before firefighters arrived.

“You are looking at a large house with damage to the roof and attic area,” Brisley said. “Anytime you are faced with a fire and your family is displaced it is significant for the homeowner and it is significant for the family. We are just grateful that there are no injuries.”

Rivera and his wife, Stephanie, were at home at the time of the fire along with visiting family members, Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton said.

“Everybody is OK and that’s the most important thing,” Dayton said.

Rivera later tweeted: “Thank you to everyone for your concern. Family is OK, and that’s all that matters.”

It took firefighters about an hour to knock down the blaze. Most of the damage occurred to the house’s roof and attic.

Brisley said the fire was believed to be accidental but said it was too early to say what caused it. The family will not be allowed to live in the home until repairs are made. Rivera said it could take six to eight months before his family will be able to move back into the house.

The incident came less than two days after Rivera guided the Panthers to a 27-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC wild-card game Saturday. It was Rivera’s first postseason win with the Panthers in four seasons.

The Panthers will play the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoffs Saturday in Seattle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.