Off The Record
Governor’s Home Goes Up in Flames While Family Sleeps — 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.
In a statement posted to X, Shapiro described being woken by banging at the door and praised first responders for their swift action. “Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe,” he said. He said the Pennsylvania State Police are leading the investigation.
At a press conference, Shapiro denounced the rising normalization of violence in society. While the motive behind the arson remains unclear, he clarified it that “this type of violence is not okay.”
He emphasized the need for collective responsibility, stating bluntly, “We have to be better than this. We have a responsibility to all be better.”
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 reaffirmed his commitment to public service and thanked the law enforcement officers whose fast response helped mitigate the trauma. “They were here within seconds and they did an extraordinary job,” Shapiro said.
After sharing his thoughts, Shapiro later provided additional updates through Colonel Paris, who described the investigation as “very active and dynamic,” noting that authorities are pursuing all leads and working through what he called 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.
Shapiro’s government has prioritized accessibility and effective governance. To modernize state tools and systems, he established CODE PA, a digital services team, and started automatic voter registration.
Experts reported that he oversaw the 12-day reconstruction of a portion of I-95, which was completed months ahead of schedule.
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.
Police are detaining a suspect, Entin added. 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 interviewing the officer then asked if this meant someone had purposefully started the Kenneth Fire. Charles responded, “At this time that’s what we believe, yes.”
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 police officials taking the suspect into custody online.
While speaking to KTLA 5 about what happened, Grinshpun revealed, “We were sitting in the backyard and suddenly, we hear a car come to a screeching halt and the guy is running out saying, ‘Stop! Drop what you’re holding! Neighbors, he’s trying to start a fire! Call 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.
“A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. They got some zip ties, a rope and we were able to do a citizens’ arrest,” shared Grinshpun.
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.
We urged people with pets or livestock who needed more time to flee to do so immediately. 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.
Regarding the overall situation of the Kenneth Fire, CAL FIRE stated, “Fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, the fire threatens nearby communities and infrastructure, prompting swift evacuation orders. Firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties are actively engaged in containment efforts, deploying both ground crews and aerial resources.”
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.”
Flames engulfed California, 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%.
The Eaton Fire began on the same day as the Palisades Fire, covered 13,690 acres, and never saw suppression.
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.
“Following recent rainfall that has moderated fire activity, CAL FIRE is transitioning to Winter Preparedness staffing levels statewide. This adjustment aligns with a seasonal decrease in fire activity and aims to strategically optimize resources as fire risks lessen during the cooler months,” explained the department.
However, CAL FIRE also acknowledged, “Forecasts indicate that above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation will persist through February, sustaining elevated fire risk, particularly in Southern California. An increased frequency of offshore wind events may also heighten fire concerns in specific areas.”
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, they mentioned that the wildfire figures could vary if the situation developed.
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.
During that period, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna expressed his expectation of an increase in the number. “I don’t expect good news, and we’re not looking forward to those numbers,” added Luna during a press conference.
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