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🇺🇸 United States /Disasters & Emergencies

Fire Captain, Wife, and Three Sons Die in Utah Flash Flood

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A fire captain, his wife, and their three sons died in a flash flood in southern Utah.
  • The family was on a day excursion hiking in a canyon near Bicknell when the floodwaters hit.
  • A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $184,000 to support the couple's surviving daughter.

A devastating flash flood in southern Utah claimed the lives of five family members, including a fire captain, his wife, and their three sons. The tragedy occurred on Friday while the family was on a day trip, hiking in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell.

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.

— Provo Fire Department officialsThe Provo Fire Department confirmed the deaths and expressed their grief on social media.

Officials from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office stated that the family is believed to have fallen victim to flooding caused by heavy rains. The Provo Fire Department confirmed the identities of the deceased as Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their sons Reid, Thayne, and Gage. A daughter, Lydia, was not on the trip and survived the incident.

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. In an instant, their daughter Lydia lost the people she loved most and is now facing an unimaginable future without them.

— GoFundMe page descriptionThe GoFundMe page details the tragedy and the impact on the surviving daughter.

Search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of the family members late Friday and into Saturday. Tributes have poured in for the Long family, remembered for their kindness and devotion. A GoFundMe page established by a family friend to support Lydia has raised over $184,000, highlighting the community's outpouring of support for the orphaned daughter.

Spencer and Katrina were loving, devoted parents whose greatest joy was their family. They touched the lives of so many with their kindness, generosity, and unwavering love.

— Bree NielsonA family friend wrote a tribute on the GoFundMe page.

Captain Long was a respected member of the Provo Fire Department. His wife, Katrina, was a co-founder of a medical spa. The fire department expressed its heartbreak over the loss, changing its social media profile photo to signal the death of a member. Multiple agencies assisted in the extensive search and rescue operation.

Our hearts are with all of their loved ones as we grieve the unimaginable loss of Katrina, her husband, and their three beautiful boys.

— Summit Medical SpaKatrina Long's former business partner posted a message of condolence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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