State Fire Marshal cites overheated
electrical equipment as cause of March 21 fire

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

The house fire that claimed the lives of hockey journalist Jessi Pierce and her three children has been ruled accidental and electrical in nature by the State Fire Marshal.

State and local fire officials discussed their investigation during a press conference Thursday about the early morning March 21 fire at Pierce’s White Bear Lake home. Pierce and her children, Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4, died in the fire. Her husband and the children’s father, Mike Hinrichs, was away on a work trip.

Hinrichs released a statement following the announcement of the findings.

“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.”

Investigators determined the fire originated in a room being used as an office. Preliminary findings show the fire was determined to be accidental and electrical in nature, caused by overheating electrical equipment in that office.

“Bringing electricity into the room is what we have identified as the cause of the fire,” said State Fire Marshal Dan Krier at the press conference.

Krier said the primary exit of the home would have been nearly impossible to get to.

“It would have been too hot, too smoky to see and they wouldn’t have been able to most likely breathe unless they were crawling on the floor,” he said. “It would have been very dangerous and very hard to go through their primary exit.”

Because the fire occurred in the early morning hours also made it more difficult.

“They were sleeping,” he said. “To wake up and make a decision that is a life-or-death decision in one minute is really difficult.”

When asked if Pierce and her children were notified of the fire, Krier indicated the investigation determined they were.

“Yes, they were notified of the fire,” he said. “I don’t know how. It could have been the smoke alarm, it could have been the dog barking, it could have been the fire and somebody woke up. They were notified. They responded and they were unable to safely exit the building.”

White Bear Lake Fire Chief Greg Peterson called it the deadliest structure fire in the department’s 138-year history.

“Jessi, Hudson, Cayden, and Avery will forever be loved and remembered by their husband and father Mike Hinrichs and the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi and hockey communities,” Peterson said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers go out to Mike, their family, their friends, first responders, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.”

Pierce covered the Minnesota Wild for NHL.com and founded and co-hosted the Bardown Beauties podcast. She was also a familiar face throughout Minnesota hockey, including at several Let’s Play Hockey Ms. Hockey Banquets, where she served as emcee. Colleagues and friends knew her for her warmth, positivity and energy.

Earlier this month, Minnesota Hockey announced the Jessi Pierce Community Cup, a youth hockey tournament in her honor slated for Dec. 11-13.

“The Jessi Pierce Community Cup is a celebration of Jessi’s life, her family and the game she loved,” Minnesota Hockey said. “It is a weekend for the hockey community to come together, share in the game Jessi was so passionate about and remember the joy, energy and connection she brought to so many people. Her impact on hockey—and on the people within it—will not be forgotten.”

State officials also emphasized fire safety at the news conference with hopes of protecting Minnesota families from similar tragedies. Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Amanda Swenson outlined several factors that can help families prevent house fires, including:

• Examine all electrical cords and equipment to make sure they have a label that reads “UL”, “ETL” or CSA” to ensure they have passed manufacturing safety measures
• Plug devices directly into the wall when possible
• Check cords to make sure there is no fraying
• If you feel heat on your cords stop using them immediately
• When charging devices make sure they are on a flat, hard surface and not on pillows, beds or sofas
• When you unplug a device also unplug the charger from the outlet
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level, outside of sleeping areas and inside every sleeping area
• Interconnected alarms give more time – Bluetooth technology exists to make them interconnected.
• Test alarms once a month,  make sure to change the batteries
• Take down alarm and look at the back. They have a birthdate — they only last 10 years.
• Have an escape plan. Make sure everyone in family has the plan and knows where to go
• Have two ways out of every sleeping area. Make sure everybody practices those additional ways out
• Have a meeting place a safe distance away from the home.
• Make the plan, practice it. Sound the alarm in the middle of the night. Practicing an escape plan is very important

“We know we can’t change what happened to this family,” said Swenson. “But take a few seconds and check your cords, check your electrical devices, and make sure smoke alarms are working and your alarms are interconnected if possible. Talk to your family about escape planning and getting out of the sleeping rooms. None of these steps will take very long, but if a fire happens, those moments can make a difference.”

Krier said his department has received verbal reports from partnering agencies and is waiting on final written reports  before determining the results as final, but said those reports will not change the outcome and results of their preliminary findings.

The final report is expected to be completed within 30 days.