Early Sunday morning, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were evacuated from the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg after an arsonist allegedly set fire to the historic mansion.
Pennsylvania State Police and the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to the fire promptly after it broke out around 2 a.m. Governor Shapiro confirmed in a social media post that he and his family were awakened by loud bangs on their door before being safely escorted out by state and Capitol police officers.
"Thank God no one was injured," Shapiro said, expressing deep gratitude to the first responders who acted quickly to contain the blaze. "Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family."
Capital City Fire Photos documented the frightening scene. Thick black smoke billowed from the mansion, with shattered windows visible on the upper floors.
Officials confirmed the fire caused "a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence." No suspects have been identified, and the Pennsylvania State Police are leading the ongoing investigation. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
The attack came just hours after Shapiro posted online about celebrating the start of Passover with his family. The motive for the arson remains unclear.
Originally published on Latin Times
