Utah firefighter and four family members killed in flash flooding
Five members of a Utah family, including a fire captain, his wife, and three sons, died in a flash flood while hiking in the southern part of the state.
According to law enforcement, five members of a Utah family were killed in a flash flood over the weekend during a day hike in the southern part of the state. The victims included fire captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their three sons – Reid, Thayne, and Gage. A daughter who did not join the outing is the only surviving family member.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office stated that the family is believed to have fallen victim to flooding caused by heavy rains. The initial statement did not name the victims, but the Provo Fire & Rescue later confirmed the death of Captain Spencer Long.
"We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family," the fire department said. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time."
A GoFundMe page appears to link the sheriff's statement with the fire department and states that Long, his wife Katrina, and their three sons died in a flash flood. The fundraising effort also mentions that the couple had a daughter whose "life has forever been changed in an instant."
The family arrived at a campground near Bicknell, Utah, for a day trip on Friday, the sheriff's office said. Officials were called to the campground around 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Friday, where a young male victim was found dead. Two more male victims were later found. On Saturday, the search resumed for the remaining two individuals, who were later confirmed dead.
