BIOGRAPHY

Born on January 13, 1949 in Portland, Maine.

Frank served his Country and was a Navy Veteran.  He was appointed to the Portland Fire Department

September 22, 1974.  After Drill School, he covered vacations at various firehouses throughout the City, including the Jetport (“Crash Station”) and aboard the Fireboat (Engine 7), and assigned Badge #246.  

Frank worked at all Portland firehouse and was assigned to Ladder 1 on Munjoy Hill in 1988.  A man of many talents, Frank was an avid sportsman who loved hunting, fishing and the outdoors.  He also operated his own Driving Academy, instructing many teenagers with their driver’s license.

On January 5th, 1993, shortly after 1 PM, a fire was reported at 629 Congress Street in a first-floor restaurant of the three-story building.  A second-alarm was soon struck.  Firefighter Cowan was assigned to roof ventilation with a firefighter from Ladder 6.  As they were opening the roof, Frank began to feel ill and extremely tired.  Copious amounts of hot smoke were pushing out of the vented roof.  Shortly after, the two other Ladder 1 crew members went to the roof and found him sitting down, in a lethargic manner.

Shortly after, Firefighter Cowan moved a folding ladder during overhaul operations and the crew noticed his condition seemed to worsen.  He was assisted from the building and taken to Mercy hospital by a Medcu ambulance.  It was confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack and was in serious condition, remaining in the hospital for several days.  Frank returned to Ladder 1 on full duty on March 9th.

On September 14th, 1993, Firefighter Cowan, age 44, died at home of a heart attack.  He was survived by his step-mother Marilyn, his wife Sandy, daughters Dawn and Laura and one grandson.

Firefighter Cowan’s ashes were spread in his favorite places and at the Portland Veteran Firemen’s Association monument in Forest City Cemetery.