Dozens of Pittsburgh firefighters spent more than four hours Tuesday battling a stubborn blaze in a 30-unit apartment building in Squirrel Hill that displaced tenants and shot a massive tower of smoke into the sky that could be seen for miles.
No injuries were reported from the fire, which collapsed the roof and did major damage to the building in the 5600 block of Forward Avenue.
“I think it’s safe to say this building is never going to be habitable again,” Cara Cruz, a Pittsburgh public safety spokeswoman, told TribLive.
The blaze was reported at 8:25 a.m. and was under control at 1:08 p.m.
A total of 73 firefighters from 17 city companies responded to the scene, Pittsburgh fire Chief Darryl Jones told reporters around noon.
Eleven EMS workers and two doctors also responded, Cruz said.
Jones said it was taking longer than usual to control the blaze because large interior parts of the 1929 building were made of wood.
Multiple portions of the three-story building had collapsed by noon. Dense patches of smoke sometimes made it difficult to see.
She estimated around 30 residents could be displaced from the apartments.
Public safety asked people to avoid the area.
Murray Avenue was closed between Forbes and Morrowfield avenues. Forward is closed between Murray and Beechwood Boulevard.
The ramp from Forward Avenue to westbound Interstate 376 was shut down, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
A total of 73 @PghFireFighters are in their fifth hour battling an apartment building blaze in @Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill. @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/jkH1owcZgE
— Justin Vellucci (@JVTheTrib) September 9, 2025
A crowd gathered with news crews at an auto body shop on Forward to watch the scene unfold.
Building resident Matthew Stock said he heard a smoke alarm going off around 8:30 a.m. He thought it was a minor fire and left his one-bedroom apartment on the first floor in bare feet and without his cellphone.
“The next thing I knew firefighters are running up the stairs,” said Stock, 35, who has lived there about five years.
Stock sat near the mechanic’s garage across the street from the apartments around 11 a.m. and watched along with fellow building residents as firefighters attacked the blaze.
“What do you think is the over/under on how much fire will damage the second floor?” asked Shalyn Faison, 22, a UPMC Shadyside transporter who has lived in a studio apartment on the second floor for several years.
“I think we have to be more concerned with water damage,” Stock replied as at least four fire hoses shot streams of water into the gutted building.
American Red Cross volunteers were on scene to hand out water and help residents find a place to stay. The group set up a post at a nonprofit on Murray Avenue.
UPDATE: All occupants have been accounted for and there are no reported injuries at this time. @PittsburghOEMHS is assisting with immediate needs with assistance from the @RedCross and @SalvationArmyPA.
The fire is not yet contained.
Please continue to avoid the area. https://t.co/8bSjZF1Qm8 pic.twitter.com/6FvDxZMGCq— Pittsburgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) September 9, 2025
The ramp from Forward Avenue to westbound Interstate 376 was shut down, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Looking toward the scene on Forward Ave @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/ePB1Gp1Ud4
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) September 9, 2025
