Governor Josh Shapiro’s Home Catches Fire After Passover Dinner — Family Safe, Investigation Underway
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Home Set on Fire While His Family Slept – What Happened After Passover Dinner
After a man stole into his family’s home and set part of it on fire, the 51-year-old governor of Pennsylvania provided an update on the safety of his family.
Governor Josh Shapiro, his wife, their four children, two dogs, and another visiting family were inside the Harrisburg official mansion when a fire started early on Sunday, April 13, 2025, just after Passover.
CNN reports that the fire started at around two in the morning and that the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire and the Pennsylvania State Police responded immediately. Although everyone was safely evacuated by emergency personnel, authorities reported that the fire caused “a significant amount of damage.”
Later that day, Harrisburg resident Cody Balmer, 38, was taken into custody by the authorities. Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of State Police, attested to the arrest.
Prosecutors intend to charge Balmer with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault, according to Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo.
At the scene, investigators found improvised incendiary devices, and federal prosecutors are thinking about filing more charges.
Troops were already looking for Balmer when he entered the premises, according to NBC News. The suspect “actively evaded” troopers who were guarding the property, remained inside the house for less than a minute, and then climbed back over the fence to get out, according to Lt. Col. George Bivens.
Later that afternoon, troopers arrested him in Harrisburg. Since then, authorities have started a thorough security study to look into how the breach happened in spite of the police being there.
Additionally, according to NBC, Balmer has a criminal record in Pennsylvania. According to court documents, he entered guilty pleas to theft and fraud in 2015 and forgery again in 2016.
He is now facing an open assault case from 2023. Photographs taken at the scene revealed ash-covered floors, blackened ceilings, charred walls, and ruined furniture.
Investigators discovered a handmade “Passover Crafts” sign among the rubble, along with other items from the Shapiro family’s Passover supper the previous evening.
Shapiro hailed first responders for their prompt action and said he was woken by a banging at the door in a statement posted to X. “Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe,” he continued.
According to him, the inquiry is being led by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Shapiro criticized the growing acceptance of violence in society during a press conference. The arson’s motivation is still unknown, but he made it plain that “this type of violence is not okay.”
“We have to be better than this,” he said plainly, underscoring the need for shared responsibility. It is our collective duty to improve.”
He also discussed the incident’s personal toll, stating that he would support his family, who were “obviously traumatized” by the attack, while continuing to serve as governor.
Shapiro commended the law enforcement officials whose prompt action lessened the stress and reaffirmed his dedication to public service. “They were here within seconds and they did an extraordinary job,” added Shapiro.
Following his briefing, Shapiro gave more information via Colonel Paris, who characterized the investigation as “very active and dynamic,” stating that investigators are following up on all leads and examining what he described as a “large and complex” crime scene.
Lawmakers and state officials reacted quickly. In addition to expressing relief that the Shapiro family was safe, Attorney General Pamela Bondi commended first responders for acting quickly and making the arrest “just hours” after the incident.
The incident was described as “truly appalling” by Senator John Fetterman, who also emphasized that those guilty must be held accountable “to the fullest extent of the law.”
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York’s 8th Congressional District denounced the arson as “horrific” and “unconscionable,” especially as it was directed at a Jewish family on the first night of Passover. He referred to political violence as “never acceptable” and demanded that those responsible face full justice.
Since January 2023, Shapiro has been Pennsylvania’s 48th governor. Despite managing a politically divided state legislature, he has promoted bipartisan cooperation in his first 18 months in office and achieved significant policy victories in the areas of economic growth, public safety, and education.
He started his term by signing an executive order that increased access to government employment and removed the need for a degree for the majority of state jobs.
He also added hundreds of new State Police troopers, made record investments in public education, and passed a bipartisan bill requiring free cancer screenings for high-risk women.
Accessibility and effective governance have been prioritized by Shapiro’s government. In order to modernize state tools and systems, he established CODE PA, a digital services team, and started automatic voter registration.
He oversaw the 12-day reconstruction of a portion of I-95, which was months ahead of schedule according to experts.
He has continuously pushed for individual freedom and opportunity in all communities, and his criminal justice reforms have centered on rehabilitation and re-entry.
Shapiro was Pennsylvania’s state representative, Montgomery County commissioner, and attorney general prior to his appointment as governor.
Sophia, Jonah, Max, and Reuben are his four children with his wife, Lori. Shapiro attributes his own dedication to community and devotion to his parents, who are both public officials.
California authorities responded to a case comparable to the Kenneth Fire earlier this year, while Pennsylvania officials dealt with a suspected fire at the governor’s residence.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) notified Brian Entin, a Senior National Correspondent for News Nation, on January 10 that the Kenneth Fire was being investigated as arson.
Entin added that a suspect is being held by police. The news reporter also supported his initial claim with a video that he posted on X a few minutes later. In the video, LAPD Senior Lead Officer Charles Dinsel discussed the matter with News Nation.
“What we know right now is that the incident occurred, it started here, and about 20 minutes/30 minutes later, a suspect was detained over in Woodland [sic] Hills area by citizens,” stated Officer Dinsel.
The reporter who was interviewing the cop then inquired as to whether this indicated that the Kenneth Fire had been intentionally ignited. “At this time that’s what we believe, yes,” said Charles.
Although Officer Dinsel made it apparent that the place of the encounter had been classified a crime scene, police officials at the time were unsure of the suspect’s precise motivations.
In addition to restating what Officer Dinsel had said in the TV interview, Entin informed the audience in the description of his video that more than 800 acres had been destroyed in the Kenneth Fire.
The suspect was captured by locals in a Woodland Hills area, as the police senior lead stated. Renata Grinshpun, a bystander who witnessed the incident, uploaded video footage of the suspect being taken into custody by police officials online.
Grinshpun described the incident to KTLA 5: “We were sitting in the backyard when all of a sudden we heard a car screeching to a stop and the guy was running out saying, ‘Stop! Give over the object you’re clutching! He’s attempting to create a fire, neighbors! “Dial 911!”
Neighbors gathered to corner the man, who Grinshpun claimed was carrying what looked like a large “propane tank or a flamethrower,” and restrain him after they heard the commotion coming from their houses. This occurred when a homeowner saw the guy trying to set fire to something behind a car.
He was brought to his knees by a group of gentlemen who surrounding him. We were able to do a citizens’ arrest once they obtained a rope and some zip ties,” Grinshpun said.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the 960-acre Kenneth Fire started on January 9 at approximately 3:34 p.m. and spread to the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles.
People with pets or livestock who needed more time to flee were urged to do so right away. Evacuation alerts were issued for the areas between Vanowen South and Burbank Blvd. and from County Lane Road East to E Valley Circle Blvd.
As the Kenneth Fire expanded quickly in the West Hills of Los Angeles County, CAL FIRE posted on their website that evacuations were being updated often and that residents should consult the LA City Evacuation Map for the warning area.
CAL FIRE provided an update on the Kenneth Fire’s general status, saying, “Quick evacuation orders are necessary because the fire, which is being fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, poses a threat to adjacent towns and infrastructure. Both ground workers and aviation resources are being used by firefighters from Ventura and Los Angeles counties as part of their active containment operations.
The department further stated, “The challenging terrain and persistent winds complicate suppression activities, necessitating heightened vigilance from residents and adherence to directives from local authorities.”
California was engulfed in flames, including the Kenneth Fire. CAL FIRE documented the effects of multiple other wildfires that damaged more than 10,000 buildings and triggered 13,926 emergency responses.
The Palisades Fire started on January 7 and burnt 19,978 acres with just 6% containment, in contrast to the Kenneth Fire, which had a containment level of 0%.
Commencing on the same day as the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire covered 13,690 acres and was never suppressed.
The 394-acre Lidia Fire, which started on January 8, had a 75% containment level, while the 771-acre January 7 Hurst Fire burned 771 acres and reached 37% containment.
According to CAL FIRE, despite a “higher-than-usual number of fires this year,” the total area burned (29,053) is less than the five-year average, although surpassing the burned acreage from the previous year (2024), in terms of the frequency and severity of the wildfires.
“CAL FIRE is shifting to Winter Preparedness personnel levels statewide in response to recent rainfall that has reduced fire activity. According to the department, this change is in line with a seasonal decline in fire activity and attempts to strategically maximize resources as fire dangers decline in the cooler months.
But CAL FIRE also said, “Prognoses show that temperatures will remain above average and precipitation will be below average through February, maintaining a high risk of fire, especially in Southern California. Additionally, a higher frequency of offshore wind events may make certain locations more vulnerable to fire.
However, the department made it apparent that they were determined to continue being watchful and ready to address any issues brought on by the increased fire danger. Additionally, it was mentioned that if the situation developed, the wildfire figures could vary.
First responders made every effort to lessen the damage, but the wildfires had already taken lives. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported that the death toll had increased to ten.
To exacerbate the situation, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated at the time that he anticipated the number will increase. “I don’t expect good news, and we’re not looking forward to those numbers,” Luna continued at a press conference.
