The White Bear Lake Fire Department has now formally confirmed ‘with profound sadness’ that NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three young children were lost in last week’s deadly blaze.
But the authorities are still unsure what caused the fire that killed Pierce, 38, and her children Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4. They do not believe the fire was intentional.
‘It is with profound sadness that we are able to confirm the identity of the four victims of the devastating house fire that occurred on March 21, 2026, at the 2100 block of Richard Avenue,’ a statement read.
‘Jessi Hinrichs (Pierce) (38), Hudson Hinrichs (8), Cayden Hinrichs (6) and Avery Hinrichs (4) will forever be loved and remembered by their husband and father, Mike Hinrichs, and the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi communities.
‘We have been in close contact with Mike to support him, his family, and his friends. He has asked us to share his request for privacy while he grieves and the rest of his family and friends navigate this unimaginable time.
‘The White Bear Lake Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office continue to dedicate all possible resources to investigating the cause of the fire.
‘Again, our preliminary findings have not led to any evidence that the fire was set intentionally. The official cause and further information will be released once the investigation is complete.’
Pierce, 37, and her kids Hudson, Cayden and Avery were declared dead after a house fire
The sports world is rallying around the husband of Jessi Pierce after he lost his wife and kids
A GoFundMe has been setup to support him during this ‘unimaginably difficult time,’ with the funds going towards ‘covering funeral expenses’ and ‘providing financial support… during this period of grief.’
At the time of writing, the page had attracted 2,000 donations totaling more than $200,000 of its $250,000 target.
Among those to make the biggest contributions are Pierce’s local NHL team, the Minnesota Wild ($10,000), the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team ($10,000), the NHL Players’ Association ($5,000), staff at NHL.com ($2,235), and the Professional Hockey Writers Association ($1,000).
The GoFundMe included a tribute to Pierce, which read: ‘Jessi had a larger-than-life personality and an even bigger heart. She was devoted to her family, going above and beyond to create many moments of joy and everlasting memories.
‘The children, each with their own unique personalities, shared Jessi’s zest for life and love for adventure. They leave behind Mike, husband to Jessi and loving father of their children, who is now experiencing an unimaginably difficult time.’
