By J. Miles Layton
FAIRMONT — During the past few months, there have been a rash of fires in Marion County.
Assistant State Fire Marshal Mackey Ayersman said two unoccupied mobile homes were destroyed and another was damaged in the Chesapeake area in early February. In May, a truck and an unoccupied mobile home in the Seven Springs area were set on fire.
Ayersman said in late July, another unoccupied mobile home was set on fire in the Barrackville area. He said no one was hurt in any of the fires and that the incidents are considered arson and under investigation.
“These fires were intentionally set, and we will be pursuing all leads,” he said.
Anyone with information on these matters should contact the West Virginia Arson Hotline at 800-233-FIRE (3473).
Barrackville Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Shroyer said the department has an active force of about 20 volunteers who have responded to these incidents over the past several months.
“When we get there, often late at night or early in the morning, these places are burned bad, pretty involved,” said Shroyer, a 30-year veteran of the fire department. “I’d say this kind of thing isn’t common, but it has happened before.”
E-mail J. Miles Layton at mlayton@timeswv.com.
