CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- 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.
The fire occurred around 3:30 a.m. on the Monday before the Panthers ended their season with a 31-17 loss at defending Super Bowl champion Seattle in an NFC divisional playoff game.
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.
"The material or fuel which first ignited was the sub-floor which was in direct contact with the bottom portion of the fireplace," the report said. "The act or omission which brought the ignition source and first material/fuel together was probably caused by a material defect or the improper installation of the fireplace."
Rivera said the fire was in constant use the day before the fire. The excessive heat eventually ignited the subflooring of the $1.3 million home.
"A vertical crack in the center portion of interior of the fireplace box was identified, as was a lateral crack along the floor of the fireplace box," the report said.
Rivera and his wife awoke to the smell of smoke moments before the house alarm and smoke alarm systems went off. They were able to get themselves -- as well as Rivera's two brothers and their wives -- out of the house unharmed.
Rivera called it a "harrowing" experience and repeatedly credited the smoke alarm and security system for keeping the incident from being worse.
"The house sustained some damage, but probably the greatest thing was that they saved a lot of our personal mementos, everything from our wedding album to our wedding pictures, family photos," Rivera said the day of the fire. "Those are the kinds of things that you can't replace.
"We were very fortunate."
Rivera and his wife will be out of the house for six to eight months during the restoration process. They are living in a temporary residence but are looking for a house in their neighborhood.
Both were at the Charlotte Hornets game against defending NBA champion San Antonio on Wednesday night. Stephanie was lured out of her courtside seat to dance on the court during a second-half timeout.