Storage Unit Fire on Merritt island Destroys Youth Football Equipment, Community Support Needed to Rebuild

A fundraising campaign has been launched to restore essential equipment

Multiple Brevard Fire Rescue Crews Responded to Major Blaze at Merritt Island U-Haul Storage Facility

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA — A devastating fire at a U-Haul storage facility behind Merritt Island Mall has left 7v7 Elite, a premier youth football organization, facing more than $30,000 in losses and a race against time to rebuild before the 2026 season.

The blaze, which destroyed more than a dozen units, wiped out nearly all of 7v7 Elite’s gear, including commercial tents, banners, helmets, electronics, and essential field equipment.

The organization now has just four months to replace what took five years to build to start the January 2026 season on schedule.

With events stretching from Tampa to Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale to Panama City, the program has given thousands of athletes the chance to develop skills, build character, and earn college opportunities. Many players have gone on to receive scholarships, thanks in part to the exposure the program provides.

A fundraising campaign has been launched to restore essential equipment and, if possible, establish a nonprofit and scholarship fund to assist student-athletes further.

Donations and updates can be found HERE.

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