Miami Herald
(TNS)
MIAMI — A child playing with a lighter caused the fire that destroyed part of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s $7 million South Florida mansion on Wednesday, according to firefighters.
The fire at Hill’s Southwest Ranches home was determined to be accidental, Fire Marshall Robert Taylor, of the Davie Fire Rescue Department, told the Miami Herald on Thursday morning.
“It was caused by a child playing with a lighter within one of the bedrooms alone,” Taylor said. “Thankfully, everyone was able to get out safely.”
Hill, 29, has four children under the age of 10.
Around 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, 20 units from Davie Fire Rescue Department, Southwest Ranches Volunteer Fire Department and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue rushed to Hill’s two-story, 7-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom mansion, at 16755 Berkshire Court, within the Landmark Ranch Estates gated community.
Firefighters saw smoke coming from the home’s eave, the part of the roof that projects out and provides shade.
Four people, including the child, were able to escape unharmed as the fire grew in the bedroom where the child was playing and smoke spread, Taylor said. After a little over an hour, the fire was out, leaving a charred bedroom and smoke damage.
Davie Fire Rescue Department and the Florida State Fire Marshal are investigating.
Hill was not at his home when the fire broke out. He was at the Dolphins practice in Miami Gardens, left practice and met up with his wife and mother outside the house, a Dolphins spokesperson said.
The Miami Dolphins star paid $6.9 million for the 9,300-square-foot home in May 2022, according to Broward County property records.
Hill arrived in Miami via trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2022.
The Dolphins subsequently gave him a four-year, $120 million deal, making him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL by average annual value. Hill leads the NFL this season in receiving yards (1,717) and touchdown catches (12).
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Miami Herald staff reporters Daniel Oyefusi and Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
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