Five family members who set out for a day of hiking were k!lled after a flash flood swept through canyons of southern Utah on Friday, July 17, law enforcement officials said. The victims were a captain in the Provo, Utah, fire department, his wife and their sons Reid, Thayne and Gage. A daughter who was not on the trip survived. The family arrived Friday at Sunglow Campground in a red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah for their day excursion, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. "It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains," the sheriff's office said in a news release. Although the sheriff's office did not identify the victims, the Provo Fire Department confirmed in a social media post that a fire captain, Spencer Long, and his family members were k!lled. "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," officials with the fire department wrote. The fire department changed its Facebook profile photo to the agency's badge marked with a black bar across the emblem to signal the de@th of a member. Later Friday night, deputies were called to the campground after the body of a young male was found in the flood wash. The bodies of the other family members were recovered late Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18. A GoFundMe site has been set up by a family friend to support the Longs' daughter as she navigates the loss of her entire family. "Our Provo Fire family is heartbroken to lose Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and their three sons Reid, Thayne and Gage due to a devastating flash flood Thursday evening," the fundraise page reads. "In an instant, their daughter Lydia lost the people she loved most and is now facing an unimaginable future without them."The post Fire captain, wife, 3 sons found dad after flash flood in Utah canyon appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
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