Provo Fire Capt. Spencer Long, his wife and their three sons died during a family outing near Sunglow Campground.
BICKNELL, Utah — A Provo fire captain, his wife and their three sons were killed when heavy rain triggered a flash flood during a family outing in a southern Utah canyon, leaving the couple’s daughter as the sole surviving member of their immediate family.
Authorities identified the family as Spencer Long, his wife, Katrina Long, and their sons Reid, Thayne and Gage. Their daughter, Lydia Long, was not with them when the flooding struck Friday near Sunglow Campground in Wayne County. Search crews recovered three bodies Friday and found the other two Saturday.
The family arrived in the campground area at about 11:30 a.m. Friday to hike and go canyoneering, Wayne County Sheriff Micah Gulley said. The campground sits in a narrow red-rock canyon near Bicknell, about an hour south of Richfield and west of Capitol Reef National Park.
Heavy thunderstorms moved through the area and dropped large amounts of rain within a short period. Investigators believe the family was caught in flooding caused by the storm, although the sheriff’s office said the circumstances remained under investigation.
Deputies were called to Sunglow Campground at about 5 p.m. after someone reported finding the body of a young male in a wash. Search-and-rescue teams were activated after deputies found evidence that the victim had been traveling with a family group.
Responders found the bodies of two additional males in the same wash Friday evening. Search crews continued looking for two missing family members before finding them dead around noon Saturday. The sheriff’s office said all five family members had been accounted for and search personnel later left the area.
Provo Fire and Rescue confirmed that Spencer Long was a captain with the department. The agency said it was heartbroken by the deaths and extended condolences to the family’s friends, relatives and fellow firefighters. Fire agencies across Utah also posted messages honoring Long and supporting his department.
Long had served as a firefighter and was remembered by colleagues for his commitment to public service. Provo Fire and Rescue marked his death by placing a black mourning band across the department badge displayed on its social media page.
Katrina Long was a co-founder of Summit Medical Spa and had previously served on the Mona City Council. Mona City officials remembered her for the time she devoted to the community and described her as a kind and committed leader. Her business said she made employees, clients and friends feel valued and supported.
A fundraising page established by a family friend identified Lydia as the couple’s surviving daughter and said she had not joined the trip. The campaign was created to help her with funeral costs and future needs as she faces the deaths of her parents and brothers.
The fundraiser described Spencer and Katrina Long as devoted parents whose family was their greatest joy. By Monday, it had collected more than $184,000, according to CBS News. The amount had grown rapidly as friends, firefighters and other community members shared messages of support.
Sunglow Campground is located in Fishlake National Forest and is surrounded by steep canyon walls. Flash floods can move quickly through washes and narrow canyons when storms release heavy rain nearby, even when rainfall at the campground itself appears limited.
A nearby resident told FOX 13 that the Bicknell area had experienced serious flooding before and said the loss had deeply affected the community. The resident called for stronger warning systems during Utah’s summer monsoon season, when thunderstorms can create dangerous conditions in canyon country.
The sheriff’s office reopened the search area after recovery crews completed their work. Authorities had not released additional findings about the exact sequence of events or said whether the family received a flood warning before entering the canyon.
Author note: Last updated July 20, 2026.