Wild reporter Jessi Pierce deadly fire not intentional, officials say
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A deadly house fire in Minnesota that claimed the lives of an NHL reporter and her three children over the weekend was not intentional, authorities said Monday, citing preliminary investigation findings.
The White Bear Lake Fire Department issued a statement Monday following the Saturday morning fire that claimed the lives of 37-year-old Minnesota Wild reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children.
Minnesota Wild announced that reporter Jessi Pierce died along with her three children in a house fire. (Minnesota Wild)
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“We are in the very early stages of the investigation and our preliminary findings have not led to any evidence that the fire was intentionally set,” the press release said. The statement was included. “The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The official cause and further information will be released once the investigation is completed.”
Authorities said they, as well as the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, were “devoting all possible resources to this investigation.”
“Words cannot express how devastated we all are,” Guerin said of Pierce. “But as I mentioned to some of you the other night, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the media, if you’re a player, if you’re in management, if you’re a coach, we’re all in the sports world and the hockey world and we’re all in this together.” (Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI)
WILD GM BILL GUERIN CALLED WRITER JESSI PIERCE ‘FALLLIGHT’ AFTER THE DEATH OF THE HEART INCLUDING HIS CHILDREN
Authorities said Pierce and her children were found dead in the detached house, and nearby people saw flames coming from the roof early Saturday morning. Pierce’s husband, Mike Hinrichs, was reportedly out of town on a business trip at the time of the fire.
Their children, Hudson, Cayden and Avery, were ages 8, 6 and 4.
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin remembered Pierce as a “ray of sunshine.”
Jessi Pierce (left) covers the Minnesota Wild. (Minnesota Wild/AP)
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“Words cannot express how devastated we all are,” Guerin said. “But as I mentioned to some of you the other night, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the media, if you’re a player, if you’re in management, if you’re a coach, we’re all in the sports world and the hockey world and we’re all in this together.”
Pierce covered the Wild for 10 seasons for NHL.com. His work has also appeared in The Athletic, the B1G Ice Hockey blog, Minnesota Hockey Journal and Massachusetts Hockey.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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