Sports Team Loses $35K in Storage Facility Fire

A fire at a Merritt Island, Florida U-Haul storage site has left a local youth football program without its equipment and uniforms, wiping out roughly $35,000 worth of gear.

The blaze tore through the storage unit used by the 7V7 Elite team, destroying nearly everything inside. “We were four spots away. We were one of the most affected units—just burnt to a crisp for the most part,” said co-owner Nicholas Donahue.

Brevard County Fire Rescue crews responded to the flames Wednesday at the Fortenberry Road facility near Merritt Island Mall. Inside the team’s 10x10 unit, almost all of the footballs, uniforms, and supplies were lost. Donahue said only “maybe one tent and a couple of pylons” survived.

The program’s co-owners, Donahue and Lee Latner, said the equipment represented five years of work. Last season was their biggest yet, with around 7,000 young athletes participating. Now, they face the possibility of missing the 2025 season, which begins in January.

“In order to book the facilities that are large enough to do what we need them to do, we have to book them well in advance,” Latner explained. “Those fields cost anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000 for the weekend. They don’t just let you sign a piece of paper—you have to put down money, if not the full amount.”

Although families pay for tournament participation, Donahue said it isn’t enough to rebuild after the fire. “Each tournament is a break-even,” he noted. “It’s not like we’re walking away with thousands of dollars when it’s all said and done. We have 20 employees during tournaments.”

To make matters worse, the storage unit was uninsured, and the team says they haven’t received communication from U-Haul staff since the fire. “I don’t want to say it adds insult to injury,” Latner said.

Donahue added, “You would just think that you would get some type of information, some type of email, some type of something. Saying I know you guys didn’t have insurance on your stuff, but here are some things you could do. Some kind of guidance.”

Now, the program is turning to the community for help to salvage its upcoming season. A GoFundMe page has been launched to raise money and keep the team’s young athletes on the field.