Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were inside the home during the attack but were evacuated safely. (Credit: Jaromir Chalabala/Adobe Stock)
On Oct. 14, the man accused of an arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion pled guilty to attempted murder, aggravated arson and terrorism charges.
In April, Cody Balmer, 38, scaled the mansion’s perimeter fence, broke a window and threw a firebomb inside. He then entered the residence and started more fires. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were inside the home during the attack but were evacuated safely.
Balmer fled the scene but later turned himself in. He told a 911 operator that he targeted Shapiro, who is Jewish, because of his stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
The governor’s mansion saw extensive damage to the first floor. Third-party arson is typically covered by insurance, but it can be complicated if the reason for the fire isn't clear.
Some key facts about insurance and arson:
- When arson is committed by a third-party — not the insured or anyone covered by the policy — the damage is generally covered under homeowners insurance, commercial property insurance and comprehensive auto coverage.
- Insurers treat third-party arson as a criminal act, similar to vandalism. They’ll usually conduct an investigation to make sure the fire was not set or planned by the policyholder. That investigation can include investigators or forensic experts and sometimes the local fire department. They’ll usually review financial records or motives and interview any witnesses.
- If a policyholder or anyone covered by the policy set the fire intentionally, then the claim will be denied, and the insurer can pursue criminal charges or investigate the case as insurance fraud.
- If a policyholder or someone else sets a fire on accident, any damage is covered by insurance.
There have been several high-profile arson fraud cases over the years. In Texas in the 1980s, a furniture store owner repeatedly set his own stores on fire to collect payouts, until investigators noticed identical burn patterns and that the owner had over-insured his stock. Detroit has a long-standing issue with car owners burning their own vehicles — a “car-b-que” — to avoid loan payments or collect on insurance.
Arson fraud is typically motivated by financial stress. Convictions can result in felony charges, up to 20 years in prison, fines and restitution and sometimes permanent loss of insurance coverage.
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