Five members of a family, including a fire captain, his wife, and their three sons, died after a flash flood swept through canyons in southern Utah on Friday. The family had been on a day excursion.
The victims were identified by the Provo Fire Department as Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their sons Reid, Thayne, and Gage. A daughter, who was not on the trip, survived.
The family had arrived Friday at Sunglow Campground in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah, for their outing. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office stated that the family likely fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains.
Deputies were called to the campground late Friday night after the body of a young male was discovered in the flood wash. The bodies of the other family members were recovered late Friday and Saturday.
Provo Fire Department officials expressed their grief on social media, stating, "We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time."
A GoFundMe page established by a family friend to support the surviving daughter noted that Spencer and Katrina Long were devoted parents whose greatest joy was their family. Katrina Long was also the cofounder of a medical spa, Summit Medical Spa, which posted on Facebook, "Our hearts are with all of their loved ones as we grieve the unimaginable loss of Katrina, her husband, and their three beautiful boys."