Fire officials have shared a new update following the deaths of NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three young children in a house fire.
Pierce, 37, died alongside her children — Hudson, eight, Cayden, six, and Avery, four — after their home caught fire on Saturday, March 21. The family dog also died.
On Monday, March 23, the White Bear Lake Fire Department provided an update, saying investigators do not believe the blaze was intentionally set.
Authorities noted the fire’s cause has not yet been determined, and the investigation remains ongoing.
In a statement, the department said: “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.”
At the time of the fire, Pierce’s husband, Mike Hinrichs, was reportedly away on a business trip.
A neighbor said she witnessed the frightening moments as the situation unfolded overnight. Julie Andrus told The Minnesota Star Tribune she had been ‘sleeping’ when the fire started in the early hours of Saturday.
“By the time cops work us, it was like a tornado of smoke,” she said.
Pierce was well known for her hockey coverage and for championing women in the sport. She co-hosted the Bardown Beauties podcast with Kristin Krull, who posted a tribute on social media on Monday.
“Family isn’t always blood, but the people you choose and that couldn’t have been more true,” Krull wrote. “Jessi was like another big sister to me. She had a confidence and a way of being able to talk to anyone that I envied. She had an unmatched work ethic and a huge heart. Any time I needed help, needed to rant, or needed someone she was there without hesitation. Most importantly, she was the best mom and loved her kids and family fiercely.”
Krull also shared her grief in a post on X as messages of sympathy continued to come in for Pierce and her loved ones.
“Every Monday me and Jessi would sit down to record the Bardown Beauties Podcast. This morning my phone buzzed with a notification that the record is coming up, except today it’s not,’ Krull posted.
“Logging onto my computer, sitting at my desk with my microphone where we recorded was another hard thing I haven’t yet done but have to continue to do.’
“I know me and so many others are feeling this, it’s cruel that the world doesn’t stop when terrible things happen even when we desperately beg for it to. The world keeps moving even when we feel like we can’t. All we can do is continue to try to move forward the best we can.
“My heart hurts for everyone today just doing their best to make it through the day. But for as long as I can, I’ll keep my Monday podcast record notifications on because it reminds me of how much special time I was able to share with Jessi weekly.”