Louisiana Firefighter Charged With Setting Firehouse On Fire

Posted by: Curt Varone March 17, 2024 0

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office has brought arson charges against a firefighter for setting a hurricane-damaged firehouse on fire.  Jamison Smith, 18, is charged with simple arson for the fire that destroyed the Iowa Volunteer Fire Department’s former main station.

The station was seriously damaged by Hurricane Laura in 2020. It was no longer in active use, but rather to store equipment. At the time of the fire the station also contained a reserve fire apparatus

Iowa ‘s Fire Chief Charlotte Lantier was quoted by KPLC Channel 7:

  • It was heartbreaking a fire chief never wants to see their fire station whether it was functional or not go up in flames.
  • The station is totally demolished there’s not salvaging anything, in the bay we were able to take some equipment out of it. The truck in the bay is completely gone we’re trying to salvage some of the equipment off of it.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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