Published on March 14, 2025
Just before 5:30 p.m., Pittsburgh Police, Fire, and EMS responded to the 300 block of Semple Street in Central Oakland for reports of a porch collapse with injuries.
Arriving responders located a collapsed porch in the rear of a residence with a large crowd gathered.
Witnesses reported that several hundred individuals had converged in the communal courtyard space behind the residence. They also reported that people had been on the roof of the porch, as well as on the porch itself when it collapsed.
Pittsburgh EMS transported a total of sixteen individuals from the scene. Thirteen were transported in stable condition; three were transported in serious, but stable condition. The bulk of the transports were for minor arm and leg injuries, and concussions. One individual is believed to have suffered a leg fracture.
At least a dozen people were treated on-scene for minor abrasions.
The Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) arrived to the scene. They condemned the porch, but deemed the residential structure itself to be sound.
University of Pittsburgh Police also responded to the scene and aided city efforts.