Utah firefighter and four family members killed in flash flooding

July 20, 2026

A Utah fire captain, Spencer Long, along with his wife Katrina and their three sons died in flash flooding while on a family hiking trip in southern Utah over the weekend. The family had visited a campground near Bicknell for a day trip on Friday when heavy rains triggered the deadly flooding event. Authorities discovered the victims over a two-day search operation, finding the first body Friday evening and locating the remaining four by Saturday.

Who is affected

Captain Spencer Long (Provo firefighter, deceased)
Katrina Long (Spencer's wife, deceased)
Reid, Thayne, and Gage Long (three sons, deceased)
The surviving daughter of Spencer and Katrina Long
Provo Fire & Rescue (Spencer Long's employer)
Spencer Long's colleagues, friends, and extended family

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The search operations mentioned were completed by Saturday.

Why it matters

This tragedy resulted in the near-complete loss of an entire family, leaving one daughter orphaned and without her siblings. The incident highlights the deadly dangers of flash flooding in Utah's terrain, particularly how quickly weather conditions can turn fatal even during routine outdoor activities. The loss also impacts the Provo Fire & Rescue community, which lost an experienced captain who dedicated his career to saving others.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC