HARRISBURG, Pa. — Harrisburg Fire Chief BRIAN ENTERLINE highlighted the critical role of closed doors in preventing a potential tragedy during the fire that engulfed the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion. During a press conference on Monday, ENTERLINE detailed the challenges faced by his department in locating the fire and gaining access to the historic complex.
“We just can’t drive fire trucks to the front of the thing,” ENTERLINE said, noting that firefighters had to cut through gates to reach the blaze. Once inside, the team swiftly contained the fire, preventing it from spreading further.
ENTERLINE described the scene as “very surreal,” emphasizing the importance of preserving evidence left behind by the alleged arsonist for investigators. “Luckily, for the governor and his family, there were doors closed between the main portion of the ballroom and the hallway leading to the main and master staircase going to the second floor,” he said. “It would have been a totally different fire and a totally different outcome, most likely, had that door not been closed.”
The Governor’s Mansion, built in 1968, lacked a fire suppression system, a feature ENTERLINE hopes will be added during the upcoming remodel.
The suspect, CODY BALMER, 38, of Harrisburg, is currently hospitalized for a medical condition unrelated to the fire or his arrest, according to Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). BALMER has been charged with domestic terrorism, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, criminal homicide, and other offenses, as outlined in a criminal complaint released Monday.
When asked about a possible motive for the attack during a meeting with El Salvador’s President NAYIB BUKELE, former President DONALD TRUMP responded, “No, I haven’t, but the attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand. Just from what I read and from what I’ve been told, the attacker basically wasn’t a fan of anybody’s. Probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.”
[Source](https://www.foxnews.com)
[Source](https://www.psp.pa.gov)