HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Bob Belfanti doesn't know why someone tried to burn down his district office in Northumberland County early Sunday, but he hopes it's not because of his support for some exemptions to a proposed statewide smoking ban in workplaces.

Four separate fires were set inside the building in Mount Carmel, causing at least $150,000 in damage, according to the local fire marshal and police, who are calling it arson. The office suffered extensive fire, smoke and water damage and will take weeks to repair.

"The whole back of the building was a ball of fire. It melted our computers and left large hunks of plastic," he said yesterday.

Mr. Belfanti is one of six members of a House-Senate conference committee that is set to adopt a proposed smoke-free bill Tuesday during a meeting at the state Capitol.

Mr. Belfanti, a Democrat who's been in the House for 28 years and is a smoker himself, has been outspoken in favoring exemptions that would allow smoking at smaller taverns, at military and fraternal clubs that have only adult members, and on at least part of casino floors.

He said it would be "outrageous for someone to burn my office down over a vote. I get some goofy e-mails, and some hate mail on certain issues, but I don't know of any political enemies who would do this."

He said his position on the smoking issue isn't the first controversial stance he's taken over the years.

"I don't cut and run" from difficult issues, he said.

He strongly supports the Second Amendment right to own firearms, as do many of his rural constituents. He has taken a middle position on abortion issues, saying it should be allowed in cases of rape or when the life of the mother is at stake. He opposed state-funded school vouchers for private or religious schools.

"I am apprehensive," with the arsonist still at large, he said. "The cops told me they do have some leads, but haven't told me the details. I've racked my brains over what may have caused someone to do this."