Pittsburgh may ban porch couches as fire hazard

[bijou]

Pittsburgh City Council today gave its unanimous, initial approval to legislation banning mattresses, box springs, sofas and upholstered chairs from city porches, primarily to prevent the celebratory burning of such items, as has happened repeatedly in Oakland.

Councilman Bruce Kraus showed council video of couches, ignited in the streets of Oakland, after the Steelers Super Bowl win and during a street festival. Last week council postponed the legislation for a week and asked for the Law Department's opinion, and though it hasn't been provided, he urged prompt action.

"Rome is burning, and we just wasted a week," he said, shortly after showing video of a blazing couch on Semple Street. "One idiot that decides to place an accelerant on the wood of that porch, and that whole row of houses could go up."

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You can prise it from my still warm and slightly charred hands. 

[Miss Mia]

What idiots.  Setting their own stuff on fire?  I'm surprised this isn't from Florida.   

[Chris_]

What idiots.  Setting their own stuff on fire?  I'm surprised this isn't from Florida.   

Maybe they're recent transplants from Pt. St.Lucie?