UPDATE: The suspect in the arson that occurred at the Governor’s Residence on 04/13/25 has been identified as Cody A. Balmer, 03/23/1987, of Harrisburg, PA. He was taken into custody without incident and charged through Magisterial District Court 12-1-02, Harrisburg. Due to a medical event not connected to this incident or his arrest, Balmer was transported to an area hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. He remains under PSP supervision and will be transported to the Dauphin County Prison for arraignment upon his release.
ORIGINAL STORY: On April 13, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., members of the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to the Governor’s Residence, located on North Front Street, Harrisburg City, Dauphin County, for the report of a fire. While the investigation is ongoing, the State Police is prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson.
While the fire was successfully extinguished, it caused a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence.
The Governor and his family were present in a different part of the residence. They were evacuated safely and were not injured.
The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H is currently on scene and spearheading a multi-agency investigation.
There is a reward of up to $10,000 offered through PSP Tips for the arrest and conviction for the individual(s) responsible. Anyone with information should call 1-800-4PA TIPS (1-800-472-8477).
No additional information will be released at this time. However, this is a fast-moving investigation, and details will be provided as appropriate.
