Arsonist strikes Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's mansion on 1st night Pesach

In the dead of night, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were jolted awake by state police pounding on their door. An arsonist had set fire to the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, and flames were tearing through the historic home. It was around 2 a.m. Sunday when the Shapiro family scrambled to safety, guided by Capitol Police as firefighters battled the blaze.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the fire left a chunk of the 29,000-square-foot Georgian-style mansion badly damaged. Photos shared online showed thick smoke pouring from the building and windows blown out. State police are still piecing together what happened and hunting for the culprit.

Shapiro, a Democrat who’s been governor since 2022, took to social media to thank the first responders who rushed to their aid. “They put their lives on the line for us, and we’ll never forget it,” he said. The fire came just hours after he’d posted about celebrating Passover with his family.

The mansion, a riverside landmark since 1968, has been home to eight governors. It got a big accessibility and eco-friendly upgrade just a few years ago.

The New York Times contributed to this article.