Union Man Dies in House Fire

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says the body of an elderly man has been recovered from the rubble of his farmhouse destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning in Union. 

The body of 80 year old Lawrence Dries was located in a first floor bathroom of the two story house.  Dries lived alone in the home along Route 131. 

The fire was reported just before 2 am and the home was house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.  The home is one of the oldest in Union. 

Fire Marshal investigators say the fire started in the kitchen, but the exact cause cannot be determined because of the extensive damage to the house.   An excavator was brought to the scene and the house was leveled as firefighters continued to pour water on the rubble. 

Dries is the former manager of the JJ Newberry department store in Rockland.