Closed Doors Saved Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro & Family From Death In Arson Attack, Fire Chief Says

Baila Eve ZismanApril 16, 2025, 12:27 pmNews >

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pennsylvania) and his family were saved from the recent arson attack at their residence by closed doors.

On April 13, firefighters responded to a fire report at 2:00 a.m. in Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. No one was hurt in the attack, though the house sustained considerable damage.

Later that day, Cody Balmer, 38, turned himself in, admitting to authorities that he had always harbored a hatred toward Shapiro. Security footage from inside and outside the house shows Balmer climbing over the fence and breaking a window in the piano room with a hammer before throwing Molotov cocktails inside. He then entered through another window and proceeded to set fires with other incendiary items in the dining room.

He is now facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, terrorism, burglary, reckless endangerment and loitering, as well as two counts of aggravated assault.

Speaking on April 14, Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline reported that he arrived roughly 15 minutes into the fire. “It was a very surreal scene,” he said.

Enterline said, “Luckily for the governor and his family, there were doors closed between the main portion of the ballroom and the hallway that leads to the main and master staircase going to the second floor.”

He continued, “It would have been a totally different fire and a totally different outcome, most likely, had that door not been closed…it would have definitely put the governor at even greater risk.”

Enterline explained that the door helped contain the flames and allotted Shapiro and his family more time to escape.

In a statement to X, Shapiro shared that he and his family “Woke up to bangs on the door” from the Pennsylvania State Police soon after the attack was administered.

Shapiro has been subject to much hatred for his liberal views, particularly as he was considered for the role of Kamala Harris’ running mate for the 2024 election. When asked what he planned to do if he ran into Shapiro while in the house, Balmer declared he would have beaten him with a hammer.