City of Buffalo Reaches Nearly $5.9 Million Settlement with Family of Fallen Firefighter Jason Arno
More than three years after Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno was killed battling a devastating downtown blaze, the City of Buffalo has agreed to a nearly $5.9 million settlement with his estate, bringing one of the most high-profile legal battles in the city’s recent history to a close.
The settlement, announced Monday, May 11th as jury selection for trial was set to begin, resolves the remaining civil claims connected to Arno’s death during a March 2023 fire in Buffalo’s Theater District. The payout will be distributed over a three-year period according to attorneys involved in the case.
“It’s the largest court resolution of a case against the Buffalo Fire Department [and] city of Buffalo in history,” said Charles Desmond, an attorney representing Arno’s family. “We were looking for accountability and I think we’ve obtained that.”
Arno’s death sent shockwaves through the Buffalo Fire Department and Western New York community. The veteran firefighter died while responding to a four-alarm fire inside a Main Street building that was undergoing renovations at the time.
Investigators later determined the fire was accidental.
The civil lawsuit filed by Arno’s estate alleged negligence on the part of the city and the Buffalo Fire Department in connection with the circumstances surrounding the fatal fire response.
The city denied wrongdoing, but attorneys on both sides ultimately agreed to settle before the case reached trial.
The agreement with Buffalo follows earlier settlements reached with other parties named in the lawsuit including the owners and managers of the Main Street property where the fire occurred along with contractors working inside the building at the time the blaze broke out.
The financial terms of those previous settlements have not been publicly disclosed, though Desmond described them as “substantial.”
“It’s been a very tough road for the families, particularly for the wife and daughter,” said Desmond. “They just do not want to see something like this happen to any more firefighters in the future.”
The lawsuit became closely watched throughout Buffalo, not only because of the size of the claims involved but because it forced renewed scrutiny over firefighter safety procedures, emergency response operations and conditions inside aging downtown buildings undergoing construction or renovation.
Attorneys representing the city said the tragedy prompted a comprehensive internal review.
“This is obviously a tragedy that everybody regrets and has caused everybody to look at all policies and procedures,” said Kevin Burke, a lawyer representing the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Fire Department. “Every time there’s any injury, and certainly in the rare instances if there’s a loss of life, there’s a top-to-bottom review of every single step in the process, and this was no different.”
Despite the settlement, Arno’s family and supporters say their focus remains on firefighter safety reforms and ensuring future tragedies are prevented.
“The family wants to see more,” added Desmond. “And again, they’re going to be actively involved. The foundation has raised money for safety equipment for the fire department, which they donated, and will continue to do so in the future so nobody’s here again for this.”
Burke expressed sympathy on behalf of the city during court proceedings Monday, emphasizing the emotional toll the loss continues to have on firefighters and city officials alike.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to Firefighter Arno, his family, to his friends, and to all of his fellow firefighters and loved ones who feel his loss,” Burke said.
He also stressed that ensuring Arno’s surviving family members were financially protected played a major role in resolving the case.
“It’s a very dangerous job, and they’re all very brave,” said Burke. “We care very much for each and every one of them.”
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan released a statement supporting the settlement, describing it as a way to avoid a lengthy and emotionally draining courtroom battle.
“The loss of Jason Arno in the line of duty was a tragedy that shook Buffalo Fire Department and our city as a whole,” said Ryan. “While no legal remedy can ever undo this tragic loss, we believed it was important to work toward a resolution that avoided putting Mr. Arno’s loved ones and the city through a long and emotional trial.”
Ryan also thanked the city’s legal team and others involved in reaching the agreement.
“I want to thank the Corporation Counsel’s office and all parties involved for working collaboratively to reach this agreement,” said the mayor. “I hope that it provides some measure of closure for the Arno family.”
The settlement requires approval from the Buffalo Common Council before becoming final.
