BEGINS WITH BREAKING NEWS. THAT BREAKING NEWS TAKES US TO WESTMORELAND COUNTY TONIGHT, WHERE A FIRE BREAKS OUT AT THE SAME HOME THAT SOMEONE ALLEGEDLY TARGETED WITH A PIPE BOMB EARLIER THIS SUMMER. THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US AT SIX. I’M KELLY SASSO I’M ANDREW STOCKEY IN FOR MIKE CLARK. THIS PROPERTY NOW AT THE CENTER OF AN ARSON INVESTIGATION. STATE POLICE ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR A SUSPECT IN THE AREA TONIGHT. REPORTER CARLOS FLORES IS BRINGING US UP TO SPEED ON THE SEARCH ACROSS SALEM TOWNSHIP. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT’S LEFT OF THIS HOME IN SALEM TOWNSHIP. AFTER A FIRE RIPPED THROUGH EARLIER TODAY. POLICE SAY NO ONE WAS HOME AT THE TIME, BUT WE DID SPEAK WITH THE PERSON LIVING THERE WHO SAYS HE CAN’T HELP BUT BE SHAKEN UP. YEAH, I MEAN, IT’S ALL JUST I MEAN, IT HASN’T REALLY SUNK IN. I MEAN, AT FIRST I WAS JUST IN SHOCK. THEN I WAS INCREDIBLY ANGRY, AND NOW I’M JUST KIND OF BACK TO THE SHOCK. IT’S KIND OF SURREAL, YOU KNOW? SKY 4 PITTSBURGH’S ONLY NEWS CHOPPER CAPTURING THE SCENE AS CREWS WORK TO PUT OUT THE LAST FEW HOTSPOTS AT THIS HOME OFF OF ROUTE 22 IN SALEM TOWNSHIP. POLICE INVESTIGATING THE FIRE AS AN ARSON. AS FOR WHO, POLICE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE, THEY DID NOT GO INTO MUCH DETAIL. THEY DID SAY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR 54 YEAR OLD JAMES SEAVER, WHO POLICE SUSPECT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH THE TRACTOR MOWER AT THE SAME HOME. POLICE SAY SEAVER WAS EVICTED FROM THE PROPERTY BACK IN JUNE. THE EXPLOSION HAPPENING IN JULY. THERE WAS AN ACTIVE SCENE OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES SEARCHING FOR THE 54 YEAR OLD NEAR THE HOME. IT’S IMPORTANT TO SAY POLICE DID NOT SAY IF SEAVER WAS CONNECTED TO THE FIRE. OFFICIALS. THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE SAY IT WILL BE A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THEY HOPE TO ARREST SEAVER. BUT THEY DID POINT OUT HOW DIFFICULT OF A SEARCH IT HAS BEEN THAT PARTICULAR PERSON IS VERY ADEPT TO LIVING IN THE WOODS. THE CANOPY IS VERY THICK. THIS IS A VERY THICK WOODED AREA, AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND GET INTO THE WOODS. WHEN IT COMES TO USING CAMERAS AND HEAT SENSORS AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT REALLY HELP AID YOU. AND THEN THE DRONING OBVIOUSLY BECOMES DIFFICULT TO EVEN TAKE A DRONE AND FLY IT INTO THOSE AREAS. POLICE SAY NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS FIRE. AND AGAIN, THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THIS AS AN ARSON. BUT FOR NOW, COVERING WEST
Arson suspected after massive flames rip through home in Salem Township, Westmoreland County
Updated: 6:39 PM EDT Aug 22, 2025
Smoke billowed into the air in Westmoreland County as fire crews battled flames at a home in Salem Township Friday afternoon.Sky 4, Pittsburgh’s only news chopper, was over the house on Route 22, where flames could still be seen burning through the roof and multiple areas of the building.See the video from Sky 4 below:Pennsylvania State Police told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the fire is being investigated as a potential arson. “Considering the location and the past history at this residence, we have our investigators out here. We have some of our warrant officers. We have a helicopter up. We are going to initially treat this as an arson until proved otherwise,” Trooper Steve Limani said.The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the scene to support the local fire department.While unconfirmed if connected, the home where the fire occurred is the same house where an explosion underneath a lawnmower injured a man in July.Following the July explosion, a warrant was issued for James Sever. Police on Friday were actively searching the area near the fire for Sever, but they have not said whether the search is in connection with the fire.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 is working to get the latest information and will provide updates as they become available. VIDEO FROM VIEWER BELOW:Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
SALEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
Smoke billowed into the air in Westmoreland County as fire crews battled flames at a home in Salem Township Friday afternoon.
Sky 4, Pittsburgh’s only news chopper, was over the house on Route 22, where flames could still be seen burning through the roof and multiple areas of the building.
See the video from Sky 4 below:
Pennsylvania State Police told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the fire is being investigated as a potential arson.
“Considering the location and the past history at this residence, we have our investigators out here. We have some of our warrant officers. We have a helicopter up. We are going to initially treat this as an arson until proved otherwise,” Trooper Steve Limani said.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the scene to support the local fire department.
While unconfirmed if connected, the home where the fire occurred is the same house where an explosion underneath a lawnmower injured a man in July.
Following the July explosion, a warrant was issued for James Sever.
Police on Friday were actively searching the area near the fire for Sever, but they have not said whether the search is in connection with the fire.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 is working to get the latest information and will provide updates as they become available.
VIDEO FROM VIEWER BELOW:
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.