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Sayre Fire Victim: ‘A Veteran Who Enjoyed Life’

SAYRE — A cigarette and an oxygen tank are to blame for a deadly fire in Bradford County. An elderly man died and his daughter was injured. Philip Bowman ...
PHILIP bowman

SAYRE -- A cigarette and an oxygen tank are to blame for a deadly fire in Bradford County.

An elderly man died and his daughter was injured.

Philip Bowman was a Korean War veteran and a great-grandfather. Now his family is preparing for Bowman's funeral, but they're also remembering the man who they say lived a full life.

The home on Peck Street in Sayre had been in the Bowman family for decades, but now there's not much left.

Around midnight Wednesday, Philip Bowman, 83, lit up a cigarette in his bedroom.

Fire officials say the elderly man was using an oxygen tank and that combination sparked a fire.

Bowman's daughter Cathy Seck was upstairs and tried to save her dad before fire crews stepped in.

"I looked down and I seen him moving, so I gave it a chance, dove in, grabbed him and pulled him out," said Sayre Assistant Fire Chief Gil Crossett.

Bowman died a few hours later.

His daughter was taken to a hospital for injuries. She's expected to be OK.

The fire was ruled accidental by a state police fire marshal.

Bowman's youngest granddaughter Kayla Stone says the next few days will be hard.

"He would take me anywhere I'd want to go. He was just a good guy, a very good guy. He was my grandpa," said Stone.

The home had been in the Bowman family for generations. At one point, Philip, his wife, their kids and grandkids all lived there.

"We've always been close, tight-knit," Stone added.

Bowman was a Korean War veteran and an active member of American Legion Post 283 in Sayre.

"He was a good sergeant at arms. He loved this club, he was here every day," said Bruce Newman.

Bowman loved the Legion so much he donated his war medals to the place, including his purple heart.

"He enjoyed his life and he had a great time here," said Gary Bellows. "Everybody here loved him all the time."

American Legion Post 283 will have a memorial ceremony for Philip Bowman this weekend.

It will start at 1 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Hall in Sayre.

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