Historic $6M Settlement Reached in Buffalo, NY, Firefighter Wrongful Death Suit
The City of Buffalo will pay nearly $6 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed after a firefighter was killed in a four-alarm structure fire in 2023.
Sarah-Elizabeth Tierney, the widow of Firefighter Jason Arno, who was killed battling the fire on Main Street on March 1, 2023, blamed the department for negligence.
The settlement was announced Monday as the civil trial was expected to begin, according to WKBW, adding that a 'significant' agreement was reached with JP Contracting.
"It's been a very tough road for the family, particularly the wife and daughter, and they just do not want to see something like this happen anymore for our fighters in the future," said Charles Desmond, the attorney representing the Arno family.
"It's the largest court resolution of a case against the Buffalo Fire Department in the City of Buffalo's history. So we would hope this would bring accountability," Desmond said.
The internal and state investigation reports were not made public, but were included in court proceedings last year. Among the missteps:
- All four of the mayday calls made by Arno from inside the burning building were missed due to "excessive radio traffic in conjunction with the 2 fire events."
- Radio contact with the downed firefighter was never attempted by on-scene personnel
- Emergency headcount was requested, but never completed
- The Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus "were equipped with the ability to connect via Bluetooth" for emergency evacuations, but the technology program to assist this "was not purchased"
- Improper training and procedures
- Another firefighter who was in proximity to Arno broke contact and communication with him
- Negligence and carelessness allegations against the property managers and contractors who were working on the property that day
Kevin Burke, who represented the Buffalo Fire Department, said: "We wish to express our profound regret for the tragedy that took the life of firefighter Jason Arno."
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Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.