Fire That Claimed Lives of Beloved MN Hockey Writer & Her Children Deemed Accidental

St. Paul, MN (MinnesotaNow)- The Minnesota State Fire Marshal has released its preliminary findings of the investigation into a deadly fire that claimed the lives of a beloved Minnesota sports personality and her children. 

Read More: Beloved Minnesota Sports Personality and Her Children Perish in House Fire 

Jessi Hinrichs, known by fans as Jessi Pierce, her children, Hudson, Cayden, Avery and their dog perished in fire at their White Bear Lake home. It broke out around 5:30 a.m. on March 21. 

The 37-year-old mother covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com for the past 10 seasons and was also employed by the team. She was also the host of the “Bardown Beauties” podcast on the SKOR North network. 

Fire That Claimed Lives of Jessi Pierce, Her Three Children and Dog Ruled Accidental & Electrical in Nature

During a news conference held Thursday morning, Minnesota State Fire Marshal Dan Krier announced that the deadly fire had been determined to have been accidental and was caused by an electrical issue. 

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A news release issued by the department of public safety says the fire started in an office area of the home and was sparked by overheating electrical equipment in the office. 

See Also: Rochester Nurse's Life Changed in Seconds After St. Mary's Hospital Incident 

The fire damage and collapsed roof of the home prevented fire investigators from determining the exact location of smoke alarms. Investigators got an idea of where the alarms were located through interviews. 

Investigators Share Methods Used

Based upon the  interviews and mapping technology, authorities determined that Pierce and her children would’ve had one minute after alarm activation to flee the home before the fire blocked their escape path, according to the news release. 

“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.”

Fire Safety Tips

In announcing the findings of the preliminary investigation, officials also shared the following safety tips: 

 

Practice electrical safety: Follow manufacturers’ guidelines, plug devices directly into wall outlets when possible, regularly check cords and devices for damage or overheating, and charge devices on hard, stable surfaces. 

 

Check smoke alarms: Have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of the home and inside each sleeping room. Interconnected alarms are recommended. Test alarms regularly and replace them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

 

Create and practice a home escape plan: Identify two ways out of every sleeping room when possible, choose an outdoor meeting place and make sure everyone in the household knows the plan. Include pets in the plan if it is safe to do so.