COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The Coeur d’Alene community quieted in solemn reverence to honor the fallen Battalion Chief Frank Harwood during his funeral procession Friday morning.
The firefighter was one of two Battalion Chiefs killed by gunfire during an ambush on Canfield Mountain on June 29.
He served with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the Army National Guard. He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.
Family, friends and the firefighter community attended Harwood’s memorial service at the Hagadone Event Center Friday morning. His procession wound through downtown Coeur d’Alene, where community members gathered to pay their respects.
Harwood was described as a mentor who strengthened those around him.
“I think what Frank did so well and that really set him apart as a leader, was his willingness to climb down the ladder as well and meet people at the very bottom,” said Shea Vucinich, a Kootenai Fire and Rescue engineer.
Harwood participated in academy workouts and training sessions with new firefighters, despite his rank.
“His legacy is the way he impacted the next generation of firefighters,” Vucinich said.
Harwood is remembered for his humor and the memories he created with family and friends.
“He had some really close friends outside of the firehouse walls that just shared his impact on his family, and just the memories made for his daughters and his wife,” Vucinich said.
Edward Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, spoke about firefighters’ sacrifices.
“Sometimes we have to make the ultimate sacrifice when that happens. We want our families to know that they are loved, that they are part of a family of firefighters,” Kelly said.
Kootenai Fire and Rescue has vowed to support the Harwood family.
“Something we vowed as a department and said the service walls was to be there for them in whatever way we could in the future, as long as that might be,” Vucinich said.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
