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."

The penalty for keeping upholstered furniture on a non-enclosed porch would be $200 to $500, plus court costs, per day.

Oakland community groups came out in favor of the ordinance.

A couch on a porch "creates a health hazard. It draws pests and rodents and bugs," said Kelly Wawrzeniak, a community organizer with the Oakland Planning and Development Corp.

Mr. Kraus said he doesn't intend to restrict patio furniture that "is generally wrought iron or a vinyl composition" and is meant for outdoor use.

A final vote could occur next week.