Man Arrested for Arson in New Orleans

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