Ten days ago, while preparing for the first PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio, I emailed producer Rob “Stats” Guerrera to inform him that Panthers coach Ron Rivera had to postpone his appearance because his house was on fire.
Stats thought it was a figure of speech.
It wasn’t. Rivera’s house was on fire. Though the fire was put under control before the house was fully engulfed, the blaze did $500,000 in damage.
According to David Newton of ESPN.com, a defect in a modular fireplace built into a downstairs master bedroom started the fire.
“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,” the Charlotte Fire Department concluded in its report.
Rivera explained later in the week on PFT Live that he and his wife, Stephanie, are staying with friends while the house is repaired.
