Jesse Pierce Death Investigation: The tragic fire in Minnesota that killed an NHL reporter and her three children was not considered arson, according to white bear lake fire department.
Pierce, 37, and her three children, Cayden, Hudson and Avery, died in a house fire on Saturday. white bear lakeMinnesota, the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
“We are in the early stages of our investigation and our preliminary findings do not yet provide any evidence that the fire was intentionally set,” the department said in a news release Monday.
“Our priority is to provide assistance to those directly affected by this tragedy, conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the first responders involved in this incident recover alongside the community.”
Jesse Pierce dies: GoFundMe launched
Friends and colleagues paid tribute to Pierce’s husband online, Mike Hinrichsafter the death of his wife and three children. According to the Daily Mail, he was on a business trip when the fire broke out.
A GoFundMe page set up Sunday night to help pay for funeral expenses and provide financial assistance to the Hinrichs has so far accumulated more than $172,622.
“The children each have their own unique personality and share Jesse’s zest for life and love of adventure,” the fundraising page reads. “They leave behind Mike, Jesse’s husband and loving father of their children, who is now going through unimaginably difficult times.”
White Bear Lake Fire Tragedy
The fire department said they received a call from a neighbor at 5:26 a.m. Saturday about a fire at a single-family home on Richard Avenue.
Neighbors saw flames coming from the roof and notified police they suspected someone was inside.
“Upon arrival, crews discovered a comprehensive structure fire and immediately began extinguishing the fire,” a news release Sunday said.
The fire department said four people – one adult and three children – and a dog were found dead in the home.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Pierce’s children are 4, 6 and 8 years old.
