Cause of deadly house fire that killed NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three kids revealed by investigators

Investigators have determined that a house fire that killed NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children in March ‘was accidental and started by an electrical source’.

The 38-year-old Pierce – whose legal name was Jessi Hinrichs – and children Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4, all died after a devastating blaze engulfed their family home in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. 

The beloved hockey writer covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the last decade and spent time working for the team, while she previously wrote for The Athletic. She also wrote for USA Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey among other publications. 

Tributes poured from around the world of hockey after her death, with a fundraiser launched for her husband quickly raising nearly $250,000. 

The preliminary findings by investigators with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s State Fire Marshal division (SFM) say the fire originated in a room being used as an office, caused by overheating electrical equipment. 

‘This was an absolute tragedy, and six months later, our thoughts remain with the family’s loved ones, their friends, their neighbors and the broader community,’ said White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson. 

State Fire Marshal Dan Krier was at the scene and added: ‘There is no investigation finding that can change the loss this family is living with,’ Krier said. 

‘But we hope this investigation can help bring some understanding to what happened and remind all of us how quickly a residential fire can develop. Sometimes there may be very little time to react, which is why every second matters.’

When police arrived at the scene of the blaze, they found ‘flames shooting up dozens of feet in the air’ and found the home ‘fully engulfed with flames erupting from the center of the dwelling.’ 

Firefighters encountered ‘intense flames’ which ‘prevented their initial entry into the dwelling.’. Police reached Jessi’s husband, Mike, by phone as he was about to board a plane back to Minnesota from a work trip.   

He confirmed that his wife and kids should have been in the house. Once the blaze was contained, police and fire personnel found Jessi, Hudson, Cayden and Avery deceased in the main living area at the front of the address near the entryway. A deceased dog was also discovered.

Mike Hinrichs has released a statement after the findings of the investigation into the cause of the devastating blaze.

It reads: ‘On the morning of March 21, my world came crashing down when the lives of my beloved wife Jessi, and our three beautiful children, sons Hudson and Cayden, and daughter Avery, were all lost to me forever in the horrible fire that destroyed our home. 

‘This truly unfathomable loss and all-consuming grief is with me every day and will be forever with every breath God allows me to take.

‘My only purpose today at this occasion is to express my thanks to the brave first responders and firefighters, the White Bear Lake fire investigators and the State Fire Marshal’s team for their efforts that morning and continuing to this day. 

‘My deepest thanks and gratitude go out to all those in the community that have supported me and our other family members in this darkest of times. Your kindness has not gone unnoticed, even if we have been too numb to adequately acknowledge your compassion and sympathy.

‘I also wish to express a special thanks to the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Hockey and all the members of the hockey community for their support and many tributes to Jessi. Family always came first for Jessi, but all things hockey ran a close second. She loved the Wild and the game of hockey with boundless enthusiasm and communicated her joy and passion for the sport to all those who could hear her voice.

‘Recently, it was announced that the Jessi Pierce Community Cup Hockey Tournament will be played in December honoring her memory. A truly amazing way to honor her. Thank you sincerely for making that a part of her legacy.

‘Finally, thank you for remembering the best of my family and for your continued prayers and support.’