Pittsburgh building inspectors examine the partial collapse of a brick wall at S&S Candy and Cigar Co. at South 21st and East Carson streets on the South Side Monday morning. Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette

Bricks and mortar rained onto 21st Street Monday morning, the likely result of water damage to the side of the S&S Candy and Cigar Co. at 2025 E. Carson St. on the South Side.

No one was injured.

An almost identical incident occurred in the morning when bricks fell from the side of a dentist’s office in Washington, Pa., damaging four cars.

Bob Farrow, division chief of Pittsburgh’s EMS department, said the outer layer of bricks on the S&S building gave out, followed by a crashing down of older bricks and mortar behind it.

The owner was not available to discuss the damage, but acting Bureau of Building Inspection Chief John Jennings said he suspected that water got in behind the veneer of bricks and pushed them out.

“We have seen this before, where water seeps in behind the brick, freezes and pushes the bricks out,” he said.

A structural engineer will be called in, he said. “We need to shore up the floor joists because they are compromised, but the damage is just to this one side. This building can be saved.”

Police closed South 21st Street between East Carson and Sidney streets. The parking lane alongside the candy store was covered with rubble.

Dozens of bystanders stared as the outer layer that had not fallen hung peeled back like a rind.

The candy and tobacco store has been in business in Pittsburgh since 1965.

In Washington, the brick facade of the dentist’s office detached without warning onto a side street, crushing four cars in the building’s parking lot.

Strong winds are being blamed for the collapse, according to what building owner Thomas C. Drewitz heard from insurers.

Emergency workers cordoned off the two-story building in the 800 block of Jefferson Avenue after the 10:40 a.m. incident. The city issued an emergency demolition permit to remove any loose bricks that had not fallen.

“Everything started to rumble and shake,” Dr. Drewitz said. “It went down fast.”

Dr. Drewitz said the building was constructed around 1965.

Three cars were totaled and a fourth suffered heavy damage.

“They were flat,” fire Capt. Nick Blumer said of the vehicles.

Dr. Drewitz closed the office for the day but said he planned to reopen today.