PA Gov Shapiro’s home set on fire by arsonist while family slept: police

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family had to leave their home in the middle of the night after an unknown arsonist set it ablaze.

The fire started around 2 am at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg while Shapiro, his wife, and their children were inside, reports the New York Post. Just hours earlier, Shapiro had shared a photo on social media of his family celebrating the first night of Passover.

The incident is being investigated as arson, according to state police.

“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 X.

“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 added.

Police said the fire caused a “significant amount of damage” and confirmed it was an “act of arson.” The governor’s family had been sleeping in another part of the house, away from where the fire began.

Shapiro, a Democrat, has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate for 2028. He was also reportedly considered as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

The Governor’s Residence, located at 2035 North Front Street, has housed Pennsylvania’s governors since 1968.