Newly released images from inside Pennsylvania’s Governor’s Residence reveal the extensive damage caused by an early morning fire that broke out while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were asleep. The blaze, which erupted around 2 a.m. on Sunday, forced an emergency evacuation of the historic Harrisburg home.
Despite the swift response from Pennsylvania State Police and firefighters, parts of the residence suffered severe destruction. The fire blackened walls, charred floors, and melted furniture, according to photos taken by Shapiro’s security team. While some personal items and place settings from the prior evening’s Passover Seder were still intact, other areas were left in ruins, bearing scorch marks and overturned furniture.
One dining room used during the Seder was largely spared, aside from minor disruptions, but other rooms showed signs of intense fire damage, including black soot and destroyed furnishings.
The mansion, built in the 1960s after World War II delayed its construction for decades, has been home to Pennsylvania governors since 1968. The first residents were Governor Raymond Shafer and his wife. Sunday’s fire marks only the second major incident in the building’s history — the first being flood damage from Hurricane Agnes in 1972, which led to a two-year restoration process.
The timeline for recovery from this fire remains uncertain, and officials have yet to determine how much of the residence can be repaired or restored.
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Authorities say the suspect, 38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg, is accused of scaling the mansion’s fence and hurling a homemade incendiary device to ignite the fire. He then escaped, evading capture until the following afternoon.
Balmer is expected to face multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, aggravated arson, terrorism, and assault on a protected person.
Investigators believe the attack was deliberate, though a motive has not yet been confirmed. Governor Shapiro, who is Jewish, acknowledged the possibility of antisemitic intent, as the fire came just hours after his family hosted the first night of Passover.
“If this was meant to intimidate my family or our Jewish community, it didn’t work,” Shapiro said during a Sunday press briefing. “We celebrated our faith proudly, and we’ll continue to do so tonight during our second Seder.”
The incident remains under active investigation as law enforcement seeks more information about the circumstances and motives behind the attack .
