Hero mom dies after shielding her baby daughter as she returned to burning building to save her, family say

A heroic mother in Minnesota has died after she was found shielding her baby girl from a devastating fire after she initially escaped but rushed back into her home to save her child. Bonnie Pierce, 38, died on August 24, two days after a fire broke out at a duplex in Saint Paul, according to KARE 11.Pierce's family said at a press conference on Thursday that the mother went back inside her burning home to save her four-year-old daughter, Grace.'During that search, a firefighter located an adult female in a bedroom. As he lifted her to remove her from the home, he discovered a toddler underneath her,' said Interim Saint Paul Fire Chief Gregory Duren.Officials said they faced extreme fire conditions and had near-zero visibility while responding.The mother and daughter were transported to local hospitals.Grace miraculously survived but remains in critical condition, according to relatives.Another daughter was in the house at the time of the fire but escaped by kicking out an air conditioning unit and climbing out of a window.Bonnie Pierce (left) died on August 24, two days after a fire broke out at a duplex in Saint Paul The mother of four initially escaped the fire but went back inside to rescue her 4-year-old daughter, Grace, said Pierce's family 'Bonnie was protecting her daughter until the very end, making the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save her child,' loved ones wrote on GoFundMe.Pierce was found unresponsive after being without oxygen for about 15 minutes and sustaining burns to 48 percent of her body, her relatives added.Pierce's mother, Terri Pierce, described her daughter as a hero during the press conference.'I've lost my daughter. I love her tremendously. I miss her every day,' she said.'If I could go to Walmart and buy Bonnie back, I would in a New York minute,' Terri added. 'I want my baby back. I miss her immensely.'The heroic mother is survived by her four daughters and her grandson. A GoFundMe has raised nearly $80,000 to help support the family as they cope with the unimaginable loss.Pierce's heroic final act to save her daughter has been shared online, prompting thousands to leave messages of praise. 'During that search, a firefighter located an adult female in a bedroom. As he lifted her to remove her from the home, he discovered a toddler underneath her,' said Interim Saint Paul Fire Chief Gregory Dure Bonnie Pierce, 38, died on August 24, two days after a fire broke out at a duplex in Saint Paul, MinnesotaOne user wrote on Facebook: 'She's a hero mama!! She saved her babies no matter the cost. RIP brave girl.'Another added: 'This woman made the ultimate sacrifice for her child. She used her own body to save her child's life. For those asking why or how she could've left her child behind, fires move quickly and there is minimal time to react. What matters is that she went back into the flames and laid down while flames burned her alive to save her daughter.'A third said: 'God bless these children and family. She was their hero. Praying for the family.'Officials said they are still investigating the incident.The tragedy came just days after another devastating fire on August 20 killed four members of the same family in California.Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega, 32, is accused of intentionally starting a Richmond house fire that claimed the lives of his father, Jose Rivera, 47, his nephew Andrew, five, and his niece Joline, two. Thousands shared comments online praising Pierce for her heroic action Many shared how they would be praying for the family A GoFundMe has raised nearly $80,000 to help support the heroic mom's family The children's 33-year-old mother, Maria, who was Rivera-Vega's sister, was also critically injured in the blaze and later died from her injuries.Rivera-Vega now faces four counts of murder in connection with the fire that tore through the family's home.The tragedy has left surviving relatives grieving the loss of four family members while also coping with the destruction of the home they shared.