Hamden home burns; occupant missing

Update, 8/24: Lawson was found in the woods near his home on Thursday night. See our story for more details.

A Hamden man whose mobile home was destroyed by fire on Monday morning is missing, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office reports.

William D. Lawson, 47, is described as approximately 6'1" tall, 160 pounds, with hazel eyes, a bald/shaved head and a goatee (see photo). He is not believed to have access to a vehicle.

On Monday, August 20, Delaware County police, the Delhi Fire Department and county emergency services responded to a fire at Lawson's mobile home at 866 Chambers Hollow Road. The fire destroyed the mobile home and an adjacent shed before being brought under control.

Lawson remains missing, though. From a press release:

As of this time, attempts to locate the occupant of the residence, 47 year old William D. Lawson, have been unsuccessful. A search of the fire scene and surrounding area was conducted by Sheriff’s Office and fire department personnel assisted by New York State Police canine handlers using both tracking and cadaver detection canines. William D. Lawson has been reported by family members to be a missing person.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Delaware County Emergency Services, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Anyone who was traveling on Chambers Hollow Road in the Town of Hamden prior to 9:00AM on Monday morning, or who may have seen Lawson, is asked to contact the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at (607) 746-2336, extension 246.