Hill, family safe after fire at Dolphins star’s home

Marcel Louis-Jacques, ESPNJan 3, 2024, 03:08 PM ET

Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. — Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill and his family are safe after firefighters responded to a large fire at his home.

Fire Marshal Robert Taylor of the Davie Fire Rescue Department told ESPN that the cause of the fire was unclear as of Wednesday afternoon. Nobody living at the 9,300-square-foot Berkshire Court house, located about 30 miles northwest of Miami, was harmed, according to Taylor.

Team officials said Hill was made aware of the incident during Wednesday’s practice and left to attend to the matter.

Local station WSVN 7 News helicopters showed Hill arriving at the property just before 3 p.m. ET with his left foot in a walking boot. He could be seen embracing his wife, Keeta Vaccaro, whom he married last month, and his mother, Anesha Sanchez.

Hill, 29, also was roaming around outside near the home, sometimes with his hand on his chest or on his face, speaking to authorities.

Taylor said crews from Southwest Ranches and Broward County assisted with what officially was designated as a two-alarm fire. Crews were unable to enter the home to assess the damage, according to Taylor, who said they were waiting for the state fire marshal’s office to arrive and assist in the investigation.

Taylor also said it took firefighters “a little while” to extinguish the fire. He said crews “found heavy smoke and fire on the second floor and within the attic area of the home.” WSVN 7 News showed a large amount of smoke coming out of the roof as firefighters doused it with water.

Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told local media that the fire was contained to one room in the house, and that some of Hill’s family was inside the home when the fire began. Rosenhaus added that Hill wouldn’t comment on the fire and requested privacy.

Hill paid $6.9 million for the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom home in May 2022 shortly after he was traded to the Dolphins by the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a four-year, $120 million contract.

Many of the bedrooms, a home theatre and a den were among the rooms upstairs, according to the property listing. The house also featured a putting green, an NBA-size basketball court, a heated saltwater filtration pool and a spa built for 10 people. Also on the property: two guest houses, along with lemon, mango and banana trees.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said his thoughts are with Hill and his family. Tagovailoa was told about the fire after Wednesday’s practice.

“I think that would be difficult for, not just my teammates, but for anyone in general to be going through what Tyreek is going through right now,” Tagovailoa said. “I think the main thing is his family is safe. His loved ones are good. He’s good as well. I know it’s a little cliché to say, but those things like that — part of the house, some of those things can be replaceable. I’m just glad that a lot of his family members are safe.”

Hill has a league-leading 1,717 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches. No NFL player has more receiving yards than Hill’s 3,427 since joining the Dolphins.

ESPN’s Paula Lavigne and The Associated Press contributed to this report.