The tight-knit community of Provo is reeling right now. Everyone is trying to process a loss that just feels completely unreal. A family of five went out for a weekend trip and never came back. It is the kind of tragedy that leaves a whole town quiet.
Fire Captain Spencer Long was a rock in the local department. He spent his days running toward danger to save complete strangers. People knew him as a guy you could always count on. His wife Katrina was just as loved, always bringing light into every room she walked into.
Then there were the three boys, Reid, Thayne, and Gage. They were full of life, energy, and big smiles. The boys loved the outdoors and were always up for an adventure with their parents. They were the absolute center of Spencer and Katrina’s world.
The family headed out to Wayne County for some classic Utah hiking and canyoneering. The weather seemed fine for an outdoor getaway. But out in the desert, things can turn dangerous in a split second. A sudden wall of water rushed through the canyons out of nowhere.
Deputies got a terrible call on a Friday evening. Someone spotted a young male in a wash near the Sunglow Campground. First responders rushed to the scene with a sinking feeling in their stomachs. They quickly realized the boy belonged to a missing family group.
Search and rescue teams pushed hard through the rough terrain to find the rest. The operation was massive, with helicopters and local crews working against the clock. Sadly, they recovered all five family members in the same general area. The flood simply gave them no way out.
The family’s remains went to the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office to finish up the paperwork. Meanwhile, the Provo Fire Department is mourning a massive void in their station. The town is holding onto the good memories, but the grief is incredibly heavy right now.
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