Fire at Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence Investigated as Arson
In the early hours of Sunday morning, a fire erupted at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, leading to an ongoing investigation by state authorities. The incident, which took place around 2 a.m. ET, is currently being treated as “an act of arson,” according to a statement from the Pennsylvania State Police.
The blaze was quickly extinguished but not before causing substantial damage to a section of the residence. Fortunately, Governor Shapiro, his family, who were in another part of the house at the time, were evacuated safely and escaped injury. State police have yet to disclose any information regarding potential suspects or motives.
Images captured by the Associated Press on the day of the fire reveal the extent of the damage, illustrating broken windows and a battered door at the residence’s entrance.
Just hours before the fire, Governor Shapiro, who is of Jewish faith, shared a photo of his family’s Seder table on social media, extending Passover wishes to his followers. Following the incident, he expressed gratitude on social media, saying, “Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. 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 — and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.”
Governor Shapiro, elected in 2022, resides at the historic governor’s residence with his wife, Lori, and their four children: Sophia, Jonah, Max, and Reuben. The residence, situated along the Susquehanna River, is a 29,000-square-foot Georgian-style mansion completed in 1968 by architect George Ewing.
In light of the arson, Pennsylvania State Police have announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fire.
For further details about the governor’s residence, visit the official website.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
