Buffalo woman sentenced for setting fire that injured Buffalo firefighter

Submitted by United States Attorney's Office

Western District of New York Public Affairs Officer 

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Jade Smart, 34, of Buffalo, who was convicted of unlawfully damaging or destroying property by means of fire or explosive causing personal injury to a public safety officer, was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who handled the case, stated that in the early evening hours of Jan. 28, 2020, the Buffalo Fire Department responded to the scene of a fire at 79 Kilhoffer St., Buffalo, and found the building engulfed in flames. Ultimately, the building burned completely to the ground. A firefighter injured his back fighting the fire and subsequently went on medical leave to address the injuries. Investigators recovered a firebomb, and a red gas can nearby and ruled the fire an arson. Video footage recovered from a nearby gas station shows Smart filling up a red plastic gas can. Smart then went to 79 Kilhoffer St., where she poured gasoline from the plastic gas can into a used iced tea bottle and used it to set the residence on fire.

79 Kilhoffer St. was a building owned by the Buffalo Peacemakers and under renovation and possessed by Habitat for Humanity.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York field division, and the Buffalo Fire Department, under the direction of Commissioner William Renaldo.