Firefighters throughout central and southeastern Schuylkill County have been plagued with a series of arson fires over the past several months. The latest could have been deadly. Early Saturday morning fire companies from New Ringgold, West Penn, Orwigsburg, Deer Lake, Walker Township, Auburn, Landingville and Schuylkill Haven were dispatched to a fire along West Rausch Road in West Brunswick Township. When firefighters arrived on scene not only did they discover the barn had been set on fire but someone was bold enough to set the home of Lara Hill on fire as the elderly woman slept inside. Hill managed to escape the flames without injury. Quick work by the firemen saved the home and kept the damage to the barn minimal. On January 15 a barn and its contents were destroyed by an arson fire at the intersection of state routes 61 and 895. Other fires which have been deemed arson were Dec. 27 along Spring Lane in South Manheim Township where a barn was destroyed. On Dec. 29 a barn along Green Tree Drive in West Brunswick Township was also destroyed. Last week a fire destroyed a barn along SR895 near the Red Lion Cafe in Washington Township. All the fires were set between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. State police fire marshal John Burns of the Frackville barracks is investigating the incidents.