A flash flood in southern Utah killed five members of a family from Provo on Friday. According to law enforcement officials, the victims were a captain in the Provo Fire Department, his wife, and their three sons. Their daughter, who was not present during the incident, survived.
Key Takeaways
A flash flood in southern Utah killed five family members from Provo on Friday. The victims included a fire captain, his wife, and their three sons; their daughter survived as she was not present. The family had arrived at Sunglow Campground for a day of hiking when the flood struck.
- Five family members died in a flash flood near Bicknell, Utah
- Victims include Provo Fire Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and three sons Reid, Thayne, and Gage
- Daughter Lydia survived as she was not on the trip
- The GoFundMe for the surviving daughter has raised over $184,000
Source Claims Check
High Consensus| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victims | Broad Agreement | Fire captain, wife, three sons killed; daughter survived. | |
| Location | Broad Agreement | Sunglow Campground in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah. | |
| Date | Broad Agreement | Flash flood occurred on Friday. | |
| Victim Names | Broad Agreement | Spencer Long, wife Katrina, sons Reid, Thayne and Gage. |
The family had arrived at Sunglow Campground in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell for a day of hiking when heavy rains caused flooding that swept through the area. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office stated it is believed the family fell victim to this flooding. Deputies were called to the campground after finding the body of a young male, and the bodies of other family members were recovered later on Friday and Saturday.
The Provo Fire Department confirmed in a social media post that Fire Captain Spencer Long and his family members were killed. The department expressed their heartbreak over the loss, stating 'We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family.' Tributes poured in for the family, with a GoFundMe site set up by a family friend to support the surviving daughter Lydia raising over $184,000 as of Monday. The page described Spencer and Katrina as loving parents whose greatest joy was their family.
Katrina Long was identified as the co-founder of Summit Medical Spa, which also posted a tribute on Facebook expressing condolences for the loss. Multiple agencies assisted in the search efforts including Sevier County Search and Rescue, Utah Highway Patrol, and helicopter crews from the Utah Department of Public Safety.
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