Authorities in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, stated on Monday that a house fire over the weekend, which claimed the lives of local NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three young children, does not appear to have been intentional, according to preliminary investigative findings.[1][2]

The White Bear Lake Fire Department issued a statement noting that the Saturday morning blaze occurred at a single-family home where flames were reported coming through the roof by bystanders. Pierce, 37, and her children—Hudson, 8; Cayden, 6; and Avery, 4—were found deceased inside. Her husband, Mike Hinrichs, was out of town on a work trip at the time.[1][3]

"We are in the very early stages of the investigation, and our preliminary findings have not led to any evidence that the fire was set intentionally," the fire department's press release said. "The cause of the fire is still under investigation."[2]

The department is working with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and dedicating all available resources to the probe, with further details to be released upon completion.[2]

Pierce served as a correspondent for the Minnesota Wild, the NHL franchise based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, covering the team for 10 seasons on NHL.com. Her work also appeared in The Athletic, B1G Ice Hockey blog, Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey.[1][4]

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin described Pierce as a "ray of sunshine," saying: "Words just can’t express how devastated we all are. But ... it doesn’t matter if you’re in the media, if you’re a player, if you’re in management, a coach, we are all in the sports world and the hockey world, and we’re all in this together."[1][4]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital. "Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce killed in house fire along with her 3 children." Accessed 2024 (exact date not specified in draft). https://www.foxnews.com/sports
2. White Bear Lake Fire Department. Official press release on house fire investigation. Monday (date not specified). https://www.ci.white-bear-lake.mn.us/156/Fire-Department
3. Minnesota Wild. Announcement on Jessi Pierce. Accessed 2024. https://www.nhl.com/wild
4. Associated Press (via Fox News). Reporting on victim details and quotes. Accessed 2024. https://apnews.com/hub/nhl