No evidence of arson found in White Bear Lake fire that killed Jessi Pierce and 3 children

Jessi Pierce, with her husband Mike Hinrichs and their children, from left, Cayden, Hudson and Avery. (Courtesy of GoFundMe.com) (Courtesy of GoFundMe.com)
The White Bear Lake fire that killed beloved Minnesota hockey beat writer Jessi Pierce and her young children has not been found to have been started intentionally, according to preliminary details provided by investigators.

On Monday night, the White Bear Lake Fire Department released more information about Saturday’s blaze, which killed Pierce, 38, and her children, ages 4, 6 and 8. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“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 in the release.

Fire officials said four people — including three children — were found dead inside a home early Saturday, March 21, in the 2100 block of Richard Avenue.

Neighbor Julie Andrus, who said she’s lived next to the Pierces for seven years, described the family as “so nice,” adding that their children were always in the yard.

She said the fire was unbelievable: “We were sleeping. By the time the cops woke us, it was like a tornado of smoke.”

Pierce, who also went by Jessica Hinrichs, spent more than a decade covering the NHL, most notably as a reporter focused on the Wild. She wrote for NHL.com and contributed to local outlets, including SKOR North, where she hosted and appeared on hockey-focused podcasts.

Her reporting made her a familiar voice in Minnesota, where she built relationships across locker rooms, front offices and fan communities. Colleagues said she brought energy and openness to a beat that often depends on trust and access.

“Jessi was the most vibrant person — the life of the party, always with a smile,” veteran hockey writer Michael Russo wrote on X. “I have literally never met anybody who had a way of being everybody’s friend.”

The NHL called Pierce “a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade,” adding that “Jessi loved our game. … We will miss her terribly.”

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