Officials continue to seek answers after the deadly fire that claimed the lives of NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children.
At first, nothing seemed out of place on their quiet White Bear Lake block — until neighbors noticed flames tearing through the roof.
What unfolded next would send emergency crews rushing in and leave a community reeling, with questions that still have no answers.
A quiet night before the tragedy
Just hours before the fire, life appeared perfectly normal White Bear Lake, a charming small-town just 20 short minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul.
But soon, the entire community would be shaken by a devastating tragedy that are leaving scars everywhere.
In the early hours of the morning March 21, the White Bear Lake Fire Department were called to a home on Richard Avenue. Multiple neighbors dialed 911 after noticing something terrifying: flames pouring through the roof, with the chilling possibility that people were still trapped inside.
Tragically, their fears would soon be confirmed.
When firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Inside, they discovered a heartbreaking scene: Jessi Pierce, her three children — Hudson, Cayden, and Avery — and the family dog were all dead
Fire Chief Greg Peterson called it “a tragedy that has shaken this community” and urged compassion as investigators worked to determine the cause.
Pierce’s husband, Mike Hinrichs, was away on work and not at home when it started. Julie Andrus, who has lived next door for years, recalled the terrifying moment when Jessi Pierce’s home erupted in flames
”We were sleeping. By the time the cops woke us, it was like a tornado of smoke.”
More than a journalist
Jessi Pierce, 37, covered the Wild for 10 seasons with NHL.com.
But she was more than a journalist. She was also known for her warmth, energy, and devotion to her children.
Michael Russo, a longtime hockey writer, wrote on X:
“The most vibrant person — the life of the party, always with a smile on her face. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend. 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.”
Russo also shared the heartbreak of her husband, Mike Hinrichs.
“My heart breaks for Mike for the loss of his wife and children and Jessi’s family, friends, and colleagues for this unimaginable loss. Please keep Jessi and her beautiful kids in your thoughts and prayers. I wish Mike all the peace and support and happiness in the world.”
Last photos
Just hours before the fire, Pierce had taken her children to the seasonal opening of Cup and Cone, a local ice cream favorite. This quick stop came after a morning spent covering the Minnesota Wild’s practice.
Jessi shared photos of the kids enjoying ice cream and sandwiches — ordinary, joyful moments now frozen in time as a bittersweet reminder of what was lost.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help Mike Hinrichs cover funeral costs and support him through the unimaginable loss.
The campaign highlights Jessi’s “larger-than-life personality” and the joy her children brought to everyone around them, while calling on the community to provide whatever support they can during this difficult time.
Not believed to be intentional
As the investigation continues, the focus remains not only on what caused the fire but on the ordinary, beautiful moments that preceded it — moments that now carry extraordinary weight.
“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 White Bear Lake Fire Department said on Monday.
”The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The official cause and further information will be released once the investigation is complete.”