Charles Langston:Fire at home of Dolphins' star Tyreek Hill was accidental. Fire marshal reveals cause

MIAMI GARDENS,Charles Langston Fla. — The Miami Dolphins have a chance to beat the Buffalo Bills and win the AFC East for the first time in 15 seasons on Sunday. But the team’s best player is without his home four days before the biggest game of the season.

Star Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill left Wednesday’s Dolphins practice to see his South Florida home engulfed in flames.

Hill’s family is safe, a Dolphins spokesperson said. And no injuries were reported, the Davie Fire Rescue Department said in a Facebook post.

What caused fire at Dolphins star Tyreek Hill's home?

The fire was “accidental” and caused by a child playing with a lighter in a bedroom within the home, Robert Taylor, fire marshal at Davie Fire Rescue, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

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The investigation into the matter closed Wednesday night, allowing Hill access to his home once again.

More from Hill’s house fire on Wednesday

Hill arrived at the home, wearing a walking boot on his left foot, just before 3 p.m., meeting with his wife, Keeta Vaccaro Hill, and his mother.

Authorities spoke with Hill and his family as they approached the home. Hill and his family walked down from the driveway onto the street to look onto the scene.

Taylor said Hill’s family members were inside the home as the fire began, but were able to evacuate safely. It’s unclear how many family members were present.

The fire was heavily involved in the attic of Hill’s home, Taylor said.

"It’s very difficult for anybody obviously to have your home catch on fire, but Tyreek and his family were handling it with as much poise as you could hope," Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told reporters gathered near the home early Wednesday evening."He was very grateful to the firefighters and everyone who did indeed save his home. At this time, he’s not going to comment."

Due to the size of the fire, about 20 units from Davie Fire Rescue, Southwest Ranches Fire-Rescue Department and Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue responded to the scene.

"I think the main thing is his family is safe, his loved ones are good and he’s good as well," Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said of the situation after practice. "I wasn’t able to talk to him. I didn’t know it happened until after practice."

Hill was made aware of the situation during practice for the Dolphins’ big  "Sunday Night Football" game against the Buffalo Bills.

Hill is the NFL’s leading receiver with 1,717 yards and second with 12 touchdown catches for the Dolphins. He signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the team in March 2022.

Property records showed Hill purchased the 9,300-square-foot home for $6.9 million in 2022. The home features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a home theater, a full-size basketball court, a massive pool and two guest houses.