Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) said an arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion early Sunday morning, causing him and his family to need to be evacuated.
“Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg,” Shapiro wrote on social media
“The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” he continued.
Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were…
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025
Shapiro noted that Pennsylvania State Police were leading the investigation. In a separate statement, the State Police said the agency “is prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson.”
“While the fire was successfully extinguished, it caused a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence,” the agency said. “The Governor and his family were present in a different part of the residence. They were evacuated safely and were not injured.”
The governor’s mansion is Shapiro’s official residence in Harrisburg. Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, are “eternally grateful” to law enforcement and first responders “for keeping us safe.”
It is unclear which, if any, of Shapiro’s children were home at the time of the attack.
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Hours before the arson attack, Shapiro, who is Jewish, offered Passover well wishes, posting a photo of his Seder table on social media.
“From the Shapiro family’s Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!” he wrote.
