In brief
Five members of a Utah family died in a flash flood after a camping outing near Bicknell. The victims included Fire Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their sons Reid, Thayne, and Gage. Officials attribute the tragedy to heavy rains that triggered rapid flooding. The incident underscores the mounting threat of sudden weather extremes amid climate change.
Five members of a Utah family lost their lives on Friday after a weekend camping trip near Bicknell, where heavy rain turns into a deadly flash flood.
The victims were Fire Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their sons Reid, Thayne and Gage. A daughter who stayed at home survived, but her future will forever be changed.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the family “fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains.” The incident was confirmed by Provo Fire & Rescue in a statement that read, “We are absolutely heart‑broken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family.”
A GoFundMe page links the sheriff’s report to the fire department, naming the family members who perished and noting the tragic loss of life. The fundraiser also highlights how the family’s daughter’s life will forever be altered.
The family headed to a campground for a day trip on Friday; authorities were called to the site at 17:00 local time. A young male victim was found dead, followed by two more remains. On Saturday, the search team recovered the last two victims, confirming all five had perished.
