House fire along Route 22 in Salem was site of July pipe bomb explosion

A Salem house was destroyed Friday in a fire state police are investigating as a possible arson.

It’s the same property where a pipe bomb was placed in a lawnmower, resulting in an explosion July 20, according to police.

Evicted tenant James M. Sever, 54, has been on the run from state police since they charged him July 25 in connection with the explosion. Trooper Steve Limani stopped short of calling him a suspect in Friday’s fire.

“We’re not ruling anybody out as a potential suspect if this is determined to be an arson,” he said.

State police were combing the area around the Route 22 property after the noon fire to try to find Sever. Limani said that a heavy police presence, which includes federal authorities, will continue.

“Obviously, this is not something to be taken lightly, and if you’re talking about somebody a couple weeks ago made a pipe bomb and tried to take somebody’s life, all these things are extremely serious in nature,” he said. “That’s why we’ve been flooding this community and you’ve seen a heavy police presence in and around Salem, Derry Township.”

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— Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) August 16, 2025

Flames were visible on the first floor when firefighters got to the two-story house just west of the Route 119 intersection, said Forbes Road Assistant fire Chief Steve Rosatti. Knowing the history at the property, firefighters initially stayed in the yard to fight the flames until troopers gave the OK for them to move in.

“It was well off, it was going pretty good when they got here,” Rosatti said.

About 40 to 50 firefighters from several area companies responded. No one was hurt. A lane of Route 22 east was closed for hours to allow room for fire trucks. Limani said the blaze appeared to have started in a part of the home that was vacant.

“I don’t see a reason why the public should feel like they have to be worried … it seems like it is very targeted,” he said.

Nicholas Nagy lived on the top floor of the house for about a year and exchanged neighborly pleasantries with Sever, who occupied the ground level until being evicted June 3. Nagy was at work Friday when the fire started.

“He definitely had a grudge, not against me, against the guy that owns the place,” Nagy said.

Nagy has been on edge since the pipe bomb explosion July 20. He wasn’t home then either.

“I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled, but I assumed this would be the last place he would’ve come back to, if it was him, innocent until proven guilty and all that, but I don’t know who else it would’ve been,” he said.

Sever was evicted after his failure to pay a monthly lease for the property, according to Westmoreland County court records and police.

The landlord told police in July that he filled the lawnmower’s tank with gas and started the engine in a garage, letting it idle for about 10 seconds, according to court papers. He told police it exploded when he pushed the lawnmower’s handles to move it forward.

Troopers said they found numerous pieces of shrapnel in the garage.

A $2,000 reward is being offered. Troopers are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sever is adept at living in the woods and authorities looking for him are dealing with a thick tree canopy that makes it difficult to see. He is believed to be using an e-bike and has knowledge of trails behind the Route 22 property.

“We still believe that he is living and moving about in the wooded areas here in Salem Township,” Limani said.

They’ve responded to several possible sightings over the last week or two, but none turned out to be Sever, he said.

“It’s a matter of time before the state police and our federal law enforcement agents … are going to find him and make an arrest,” he said. “It’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of when.”

Sever is charged with attempted homicide, weapons of mass destruction, risking catastrophe and related offenses in connection with the July 20 explosion. Anyone who sees him is asked to call 911.

Anyone who saw someone around the Route 22 property Friday before noon is asked to call state police at 724-697-5780.