Tributes Pour In for Jessi Pierce After Tragic Fire
Every Monday, Kirsten Krull, the in-game host for Wild, gets a notification about a taping session for the podcast “Bardown Beauties,” where she teams up with reporter Jessi Pierce. This week, however, the notification takes on a deeper meaning for Krull as she copes with the recent death of her friend, Pierce, and her three children in a devastating fire in Minnesota.
Reflecting on the challenge of moving forward, Krull shared her feelings on social media, stating, “Logging onto my computer and recording feels like another hard thing I haven’t done yet, but I have to keep doing it. The world doesn’t pause in the face of tragedy, despite how badly we might want it to.” Her post came just days after the heartbreaking news, expressing solidarity with all those grappling with loss. “We just have to keep pushing through, even when it feels impossible. My heart goes out to everyone trying to navigate their own pain today.”
Krull has decided to keep the podcast recording times in her calendar as a reminder of the joyful moments she shared with Jessi each week.
Since the tragic incident occurred, Krull and the NHL community have been mourning the loss of Pierce and reminiscing about her kind spirit. Pierce had been covering the Wild for NHL.com for the past decade, along with her other NHL reporting work.
The podcast they co-host, “Bardown Beauties,” features a mix of fun discussions about the Minnesota Wild and wider NHL topics, with videos spanning over six years. The bond developed through their time at the rink and in front of the microphone was strong, with Krull describing the 37-year-old Pierce as “like another sister.”
Following the tragedy, Krull shared a link to a GoFundMe aimed at supporting Pierce’s husband, Mike, which has raised more than $204,000 as of Wednesday morning. “Jessi had an incredible work ethic and was always there when I needed her. Most importantly, she was a devoted mother,” Krull said in her heartfelt tribute. She expressed gratitude for the time she spent with Pierce’s family, calling those experiences cherished memories. “There aren’t enough words to describe my gratitude,” she added, struggling to find the right phrases.
Pierce and her three young children, aged 4, 6, and 8, lost their lives in the fire that broke out in their home on Saturday. According to reports, the White Bear Lake Fire Department has stated that there’s no evidence of arson at this point, and an investigation is ongoing.
Authorities confirmed they received a dispatch call from a neighbor shortly after the fire started in the early morning hours. “We’re still in the early stages and currently see no indication that this fire was set intentionally,” they mentioned in a release, emphasizing the need to support those impacted and thoroughly investigate the incident.
