The devastating house fire that killed NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children was not started intentionally, investigators believe.
The hockey world is mourning the tragic loss of Pierce, 37, and her young children – Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4 – after a deadly inferno engulfed their home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota on Saturday morning.
It is believed the White Bear Lake Fire Department found a ‘fully involved structure fire’ after responding to a 911 call from neighbors, who saw flames coming through the roof and said there were likely people inside.
A deceased dog was also discovered at the scene as well as a deceased adult and three deceased children.
While the cause remains under investigation, preliminary details provided by investigators suggest the fire was not an act of arson, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.
‘Our priorities are, first and foremost, being present for those directly affected by this tragedy, conducting a thorough investigation, and ensuring our first responders involved in this incident heal alongside the community,’ the Fire Department said.
The fire that killed NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her children was not started intentionally
Pierce, 37, and her three young children – Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4 (pictured) – were found dead after a fire engulfed their home in Minnesota on Saturday
Neighbor Julie Andrus, who has lived next to the Pierces for seven years, told the Star Tribune about the fire: ‘We were sleeping. By the time the cops woke us, it was like a tornado of smoke.’
Andrus also described the family as ‘so nice’ and added that the children were always out playing in the yard.
Pierce, who covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the last decade and spent time working for the team, shared photos on X of her trip to an ice cream shop in White Bear Lake with Hudson, Cayden and Avery on Friday.
The trio were captured tucking into ice cream cones from the Cup and Cone, a local family-owned ice cream stand. In another photo, one of her sons was treated to a sandwich.
Tributes to the late reporter and her family poured in after the heartbreaking news broke, with the NHL leading the touching messages.
‘The entire National Hockey League family sends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children,’ the league said.
‘Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.’
Firefighters found a ‘fully involved structure fire’ after responding to a 911 call from neighbors
Pierce’s husband, Mike Hinrichs, was not harmed in the fire as he was away for work last week
Tributes to the late reporter and her family poured in following the devastating news
Pierce also previously wrote for The Athletic, USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey among other publications. But she is best known for her coverage of the Wild.
‘The Minnesota Wild organization is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Jessi Pierce and her children,’ the Wild said in a statement.
‘Jessi was a kind, compassionate person that cared deeply about her family and those around her. She served as a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey during her time covering the Wild and the NHL. Jessi and her children will be greatly missed.
‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their family, friends, and all who knew and loved them.’
Michael Russo, a Wild beat writer for The Athletic, said: ‘There are no words to express how heartbroken we all are. Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) was the most vibrant person – the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did.
Pierce was a beloved member of the hockey community who covered the Minnesota Wild
‘Jessi simply loved covering the Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend.’
Russo added: ‘More than anything, she absolutely loved Hudson, Cayden and Avery and was the greatest mother who did everything she could to bring joy to her sweetest kids.’
Meanwhile, a fundraiser has been launched to benefit her surviving husband, Mike Hinrichs, who was reportedly away from home for work at the time of the fire.
As of Tuesday morning, a GoFundMe page had raised nearly $172,000 of the $250,000 donation goal for Mike.
