Fire

The Pine Island Fire Department and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to the blaze.

Strong winds, low humidity, and very dry vegetation will create a critical risk for wildfires throughout much of Minnesota on Saturday.

37-year-old Jessi Pierce and her children, Hudson, Cayden and Avery perished when their home in White Bear Lake started on fire Saturday morning. The family’s dog also died in the blaze.

The White Bear Lake Fire Department says crews responded to a report of a residential structure fire in a single-family home in the 2100 block of Richard Ave. just before 5:30 Saturday morning.

An electrical issue is suspected of starting the blaze.

Over a foot of snow had already fallen on Lake City when the fire was reported Sunday morning.

She was charged in the first arson case late last year. Court documents allege she started two fires at the same duplex.

The State Fire Marshal's Office has sent an investigator to search for the cause of the fire.

Preliminary reports indicated everyone had gotten out. Responding firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the back side of the house.

First responders were called to the deadly two-vehicle crash shortly before 1:30 Saturday afternoon.