Family’s Tragic Loss in Utah Flash Flood
On Friday, a family of five perished in a flash flood while hiking through southern Utah’s canyons. The victims included a Provo, Utah, fire department captain, Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their sons Reid, Thayne, and Gage. Their daughter Lydia, who was not on the hike, survived.
The family had arrived at Sunglow Campground near Bicknell, Utah, for a planned excursion, local authorities reported. Heavy rains caused the fatal flood that swept through the area. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office stated, ‘It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains.’
While the sheriff’s office did not disclose their identities, the Provo Fire Department confirmed the tragic event via a social media announcement. In the post, they expressed their sorrow: ‘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.’
The fire department also honored Long by updating their Facebook profile to feature a badge marked with a black bar. This change symbolized the loss of their esteemed member.
Authorities discovered the body of a young male in the flood wash Friday night. The remaining family members were located by late Friday and Saturday. CBS affiliate KUTV cited deputies as saying that heavy rain led to dangerous outdoor conditions.
A GoFundMe created by a family friend aims to support Lydia, the surviving daughter, as she copes with her loss. Over $184,000 had been raised by Monday. The fundraising page states, ‘Our Provo Fire family is heartbroken to lose Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their three sons Reid, Thayne and Gage due to a devastating flash flood Thursday evening.’
The page further describes Spencer and Katrina Long as devoted parents whose ‘greatest joy was their family.’ Katrina was co-founder of a medical spa, which mourned the loss, posting 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.’
The search and recovery efforts involved several agencies including Sevier County Search and Rescue, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the Utah Department of Public Safety’s helicopter crew, according to Wayne County Sheriff Micah Gulley.