A three-alarm fire destroyed the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in the early hours of March 24, 2023. Authorities are now treating it as a possible act of arson. The attack occurred around 2 AM on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Shapiro and his family were inside as the Pennsylvania State Police knocked down their front door.
Shapiro, frequently touted as a future Democratic challenger to the White House in 2028, was found in another wing of the mansion when the fire started. At the same time that the flames moved exponentially, so did the danger. State police did a heroic job getting he and his family out of the house and to safety, while the action was going on.
The tragic three-alarm fire prompted a swift response from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire. They heroically sped to the scene and worked with commendable swiftness to knock down the fire. Though the cause of the fire is still being investigated, officials have said that the damage was extensive.
Following the explosion, Shapiro went on social media to thank law enforcement and firefighters for their quick action and response. He emphasized how grateful he and his family were to be evacuated safely and cared for, and how impressed he was by all the responders’ professionalism and poise.
“We are grateful for the quick response from our state police and firefighters,” – Josh Shapiro
Using the governor’s residence in Harrisburg as the actual residence of the governor. In addition, it serves as a venue for official state functions. Shapiro and his family had been observing Passover at that house prior to the fire. This renders the incident even more personally and emotionally consequential for them.
As for the fire itself, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit is leading the investigation into the cause. During that time, local fire departments have raced to secure the scene, check for further hazards, and conduct damage assessments.