Heartbreaking tragedy: Fire captain, his wife and 3 children have died amid flash flooding in southern Utah
The sheriff's office said the family went to the campground to go hiking and canyoneering.
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BICKNELL, Utah - A fire captain, his wife and three kids have all died after falling victim to flooding caused by heavy rain while spending time at a campground in Utah, officials said.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office said they responded to the Sunglow Campground Area in Bicknell, Utah, after getting a report that a body had been found.
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Deputies found the body of a young boy in a wash near the campground. Search and rescue officials received reports that there was a missing family in the area.
Fishlake National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in south central Utah.
Authorities said the family arrived at the campground around 11:30 a.m. Friday to go hiking and canyoneering.
During their search, two more men were found dead, believed to have fallen victim to flooding caused by heavy rain.
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Provo Fire and Rescue said Fire Captain Spencer Long and his family died.
"We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family. 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," Provo Fire and Rescue said on Facebook.
The sheriff's office later said two more missing people were found dead.
All search teams have since cleared the area, and the campground is no longer restricted to access.
Later, the sheriff's office identified the other two people who had died. However, they did not release their identification.
A GoFundMe created in honor of the family said Long, his wife Katrina and their sons Reid, Thayne and Gage died due to devastating flash floods.
The GoFundMe — which appears to have been created by Provo Fire and Rescue — said their daughter Lydia's life "has changed forever in an instant."
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"She lost the people she loved most and now faces the overwhelming challenge of moving forward while carrying an unimaginable grief," the GoFundMe reads.
According to the Mona City Government, former councilmember Katrina Long was deeply devoted to her community, leaving a lasting legacy through her tireless service and kindness.
"We will forever be grateful for all that Katrina and her family have done to support and strengthen our community," they wrote.
According to our affiliate station, FOX 13, local Wayne County resident James Todd Manwill recalled watching a heavy emergency presence — including the Highway Patrol and deputies from both Sevier and Wayne counties — rush past his home toward the scene.
Aerial shot of the stunning scenery around the Larb Hollow Overlook in Fishlake National Forest, in Wayne County, Utah.
(halbergman / Getty Images)
Manwill added that he feels perhaps something more can be done to prevent future tragedies.
"We need to have...some kind of warning system about monsoon season down in our county because we've had some serious flash floods down here before," he told FOX 13.
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