Fire captain, wife and three children reportedly killed in flash flood
Capt. Spencer Long of Provo Fire & Rescue, who was reportedly killed along with his wife and three of their children in a flash flood in southern Utah. (Photo courtesy of Provo Fire & Rescue)
BICKNELL, Utah - A firefighter, his wife and three of their children were reportedly killed after a flash flood swept through southern Utah on Friday.
Dig deeper:
Provo Fire & Rescue identified the firefighter as Capt. Spencer Long but didn't mention the incident. According to FOX 13 Utah, Long, his wife and three of their children died in the flooding.
Wayne County officials said deputies were dispatched to Sunglow Campground around 5 p.m. Friday after a young male victim was found dead in a wash.
Investigators said search and rescue crews later determined the family had arrived in the area around 11:30 a.m. to go hiking and canyoneering before the flooding occurred.
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As the search continued, crews found two additional male victims deceased and launched an effort to locate two missing family members.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the remaining two family members were found dead around noon Saturday, confirming that all victims had been accounted for.
Authorities said heavy rainfall triggered flooding in the area, which they believe was the most likely contributing factor in the family's deaths.
What they're saying:
"We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family," Provo Fire & Rescue posted on its Facebook page. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Out of respect for the family and the ongoing official process, we will not be commenting further at this time."
What you can do:
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support the surviving family. The fundraiser says the couple's daughter survived and that her "life has forever been changed in an instant."
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, which provided updates on the search and recovery operation, and Provo Fire & Rescue, which identified Capt. Spencer Long and issued a statement following the tragedy. Additional details about the family's deaths were reported by FOX 13 Utah, while information about the surviving daughter and fundraising efforts came from a GoFundMe campaign established to support the family. This story was reported from Los Angeles.