Fire that killed reporter Jessi Pierce, 3 kids ruled not arson

Authorities have ruled out arson in the fatal house fire that killed NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three young children in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The White Bear Lake Fire Department stated the fire, which occurred on the morning of March 21, 2026, is not being labeled an arson case, according to preliminary findings.

Pierce, 37, and her children—Cayden, 8, Hudson, 6, and Avery, 3—died in the blaze at their home. The children's father and Pierce's husband, Tony, was not home at the time and survived. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.

Jessi Pierce was a well-respected reporter covering the Minnesota Wild for The Athletic and had previously worked for the NHL's Minnesota Wild broadcast network. The community and the hockey world have expressed profound grief over the tragic loss.

The White Bear Lake Police Department has stated there is no ongoing threat to the public related to the incident. Further details on the fire's origin will be released once the state fire marshal's investigation is complete.