Authorities believe a 69-year-old man started a fire that left a New Orleans family homeless and resulted in the injury of a firefighter.
Aaron Smith was booked into the Orleans Parish jail Oct. 27 on a charge of simple arson in connection with a two-alarm fire that extensively damaged three homes.
Jonathan Pajeaud, a spokesman for the New Orleans Fire Department, said Smith was arrested after a police officer saw him leaving one of the burning buildings.
Pajeaud said a firefighter on the scene injured his knee and back while pulling a hose to a fire hydrant.
If convicted of simple arson, Smith could face a prison sentence up to 15 years
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
First Brands Hit by $286 Million Claim for Alleged Tariffs Fraud 
WTW Sues Former Yacht Team, Howden US Over Defection 
Texans Hate Data Centers So Much They Are Asking Jesus for Help 
Viewpoint: The AI Boom – When Risk Stops Being Rare, Insurance Must Evolve 
