A massive three-alarm fire tore through the former Grandview United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening.
The blaze, which broke out around 6 p.m. on July 7, quickly engulfed the historic structure, causing the roof to collapse.
ALERT: Pittsburgh Fire is battling a 3-alarm fire in a vacant church on Grandview Ave. & Kearsarge on Mount Washington.
There are no reports of injuries at this time.
Please watch this space for updates.
A PIO is on scene. pic.twitter.com/actU6tJjMC
— Pittsburgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) July 7, 2026
Allegheny County dispatchers received a call about the fire at approximately 6:05 p.m. Firefighters arrived within four minutes and upgraded the response to a three-alarm fire, according to a WPXI report.
By around 6:30 p.m., flames were already bursting through the roof and windows of the abandoned church.
WATCH:
UPDATE: This remains an active fire scene. Please avoid the area of Grandview Avenue between Shiloh and Bertha.
One firefighter has been transported by medics for evaluation. https://t.co/zpaVLEZiSj pic.twitter.com/oyX4NYHHBJ— Pittsburgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) July 7, 2026
Pittsburgh Public Safety initially reported no injuries; however, by 7:38 p.m., it was confirmed that one firefighter had been transported to a hospital for evaluation.
The firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. No other injuries were reported, and authorities do not believe anyone was inside the building when the fire started.
The building, which had been vacant since 2022, had been the subject of recent redevelopment discussions.
Just last month, reports indicated that a developer proposed constructing a nine-story residential building on the site, which would require demolishing the church.
City Councilwoman Kim Salinetro had previously described the structure as “near ready to collapse.”
Pittsburgh police took a man into custody at the scene, identified as 23-year-old Colton Normand of Boise, Idaho.
Normand was initially arrested on an unrelated warrant.
According to the criminal complaint and police accounts, Normand ran toward the burning church, approached a window on the left side, and told officers he wanted to look at the fire.
When questioned, he provided a fake name.
Normand faces charges including obstructing emergency services, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, and false identification to law enforcement.
Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
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