Arson on Pennsylvania governor’s home caused significant damage, police say

The home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) was set on fire early Sunday while he and his family were inside, he said, an incident that state police are investigating as arson.

Around 2 a.m., Shapiro and his family awoke to the sound of police banging on their door as they responded to the fire at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, the governor said in a statement. The family was safely evacuated with no injuries.

Later Sunday, the Pennsylvania State Police described the fire as “an act of arson.” Officials extinguished the fire, which they said was in a different part of the residence than Shapiro and his family, but it caused “a significant amount of damage.” The investigation is ongoing.

“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” Shapiro said in a statement Sunday morning. “Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities.”

On Saturday, Shapiro, who is Jewish, posted a photo online of his family’s table for Seder, a ceremonial dinner marking the Passover holiday.

The governor’s residence, built in 1968, sprawls over 29,000 square feet in the state’s capital of Harrisburg, about 1oo miles west of Philadelphia. In addition to having served as the home of eight governors and their families during their time in office, the residence features art exhibits and other Pennsylvania memorabilia on its first floor.

The is a developing story and will be updated.

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