Former Baltimore Ravens’ Earl Thomas Loses Texas Home in Monstrous Fire Reportedly Due to Lightning Strike

Former NFL free safety Earl Thomas’ home in Orange, Texas, was engulfed in flames on Thursday, deemed “a total loss,” according to Fire Chief Matt Manshack with Little Cypress Fire and Orange County ESD 3, reports 12NewsNow.

Although there were no reports of injuries, Thomas was allegedly on scene with two members of his family as the firefighters arrived, but then left after getting into a car with who was believed to be his mother, Orange Fire Department Fire Marshal Randy Ener said. Thomas has not released a public comment regarding the loss.

UPDATE | Chief Matt Manshack with Little Cypress Fire, Orange Co. ESD 3 tells 12News no one was inside the home of Earl Thomas at the time of the fire. He says they're not ruling out lightning as the cause. https://t.co/KL8neky52y pic.twitter.com/J3A9HmrL7G

— 12NewsNow (@12NewsNow) August 12, 2022

According to officials, they got the call at around 5:15 p.m. and speculated the fire may have started due to a lightning strike, as multiple storms passed through the area Thursday afternoon.

#BREAKING Little Cypress and Orange Co. fire crews battling a fire at the home of former NFL star Earl Thomas. Chief Matt Manshack with Little Cypress Fire/Orange Co. ESD 3 says Thomas’ home is a complete loss. He says crews could be there for hours fighting the fire. @12NewsNow pic.twitter.com/YVwYsmP7r3

— James Grant (@JGrantSports) August 12, 2022

Per the fire chief, upon the fire department’s arrival, the smoke was too intense to make their way inside and had to retreat into “defensive mode.” The shrubbery and trees on the property also added immense difficulty to put out the blaze.

“When we arrived on scene the guys, the firefighter crew went in found heavy fire conditions in that corner. We’re unable to get it under control quickly. With the size of the structure the choice was made by them to go ahead and pull out and just go defensive with it,” Manshack said.

DEVELOPING | Former NFL star Earl Thomas' home in Orange catches fire Thursday evening. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Stick with 12News for updates.

📸: E.J. Williams pic.twitter.com/16ZwyAFOfE

— 12NewsNow (@12NewsNow) August 11, 2022

Orange Fire Department Deputy Chief Payton Smith revealed that half of the home collapsed entirely before they were even able to extinguish the fire.

Officials say that there is an ongoing investigation as to the start of the fire, per the outlet.

https://twitter.com/GOTCITYTEA/status/1557870877848416256?s=20&t=WnICivUVAdntpfY-ewU3wA

Smith added that Thomas’ property is the city’s largest residential fire damage in its history, in regard to the monetary amount it would take to fix.

The Southeast Texas native is currently a free agent with the NFL, after being dropped by the Baltimore Ravens due to an incident where he punched a fellow teammate during practice in the offseason.