Mother of Provo Fire Captain Who Lost His Entire Family Speaks Out — Details

A Utah family is mourning an unimaginable loss after a flash flood near Sunglow Campground claimed the lives of five relatives, including a longtime Provo fire captain.

As loved ones continue to grieve, the family has shared a heartfelt public statement honoring those who died while offering a deeply personal glimpse into the tragedy.

The Family Behind the Headlines

The Long family lost Provo Fire & Rescue Captain Spencer Long, his wife, Katrina, and their three sons — Reid, Thayne, and Gage — in the flood. Their daughter, Lydia, survived.

In a Facebook post, Spencer's mother, Wendi Long, reflected on the lives they lived and the legacy they leave behind.

She remembered Spencer as the eldest of four brothers who "set the example for hard work, wisdom, and quiet strength." According to his mother, he served as a captain with Provo Fire & Rescue after decades as a wildland firefighter, paramedic, and search and rescue responder.

Wendi also recalled his passion for the outdoors.

"He loved the outdoors and lived for adventure," she wrote, remembering family trips spent sleeping under the stars, tackling difficult trails, and making memories together.

She described Katrina as "the heart of their home" and a co-founder of Summit Medical Spa, where she helped build "a culture of care and community."

The tribute also honored each of the couple's sons. Reid had recently returned from serving an LDS mission in Colombia and had a deep love for his church and calling.

Thayne excelled as a hockey goalie, had recently begun boxing, loved the outdoors, and launched his own vehicle detailing business, Juab Detailing, at just 13 years old. Gage loved hockey and the outdoors, and although he lived with diabetes, his grandmother wrote that he "always had a smile on his face."

The Message Spencer Long's Mother Wanted to Share

Along with remembering her family, Wendi Long made one point she wanted the public to understand. She said:

"This loss is unimaginable, and we want to be clear: Spencer would never knowingly put his family in danger."

Wendi said Lydia survived the flood and now needs the love and support of those around her. She also thanked the Mona community, firefighters, search and rescue families, Katrina's colleagues, friends, neighbors, and extended family for their support.

A GoFundMe has been established to help Lydia, and the family asked the public to keep her and everyone who loved them in their prayers.

She concluded by writing that the loss of Spencer, Katrina, Reid, Thayne, and Gage has left "a hole in our family that can never be filled." Even so, she said the family will honor them by living the values they embodied — serving others, loving deeply, and finding joy in the outdoors and in one another.

Wendi ended the tribute with a final message of remembrance: "We will forever love and miss Spencer, Katrina, Reid, Thayne, and Gage. Their spirit and legacy will live on in all of us."

A Distressing Discovery in Wayne County

On Friday, July 17, 2026, a family arrived at Sunglow Campground near Bicknell, Utah, around 11:30 a.m. to go hiking and canyoneering in the scenic red rock canyon. They had no idea that a sudden natural catastrophe was about to unfold.

Around 5:00 p.m. that same afternoon, Wayne County officials received a frantic call after a young male victim was found dead in a nearby flood wash. Emergency crews rushed to the scene to launch an immediate search.

Local resident James Todd Manwill was sitting on his front patio nearby when emergency vehicles began racing past his home. He saw law enforcement officers from Sevier County, Wayne County, and the Utah Highway Patrol speeding toward the canyon.

Manwill noted that it was not even raining at his house at the time, making the sudden rush of emergency vehicles baffling. He realized that something terrible must have happened up in the wash.

As search and rescue teams moved through the muddy terrain on Friday night, they discovered two more male victims deceased. Darkness forced rescuers to navigate dangerous conditions as they searched for two remaining missing individuals.

The grueling operation ended around noon on Saturday when searchers located the final two bodies. Officials from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office confirmed that all five victims were accounted for in a horrific outcome.

According to detailed reporting from FOX 13 News, heavy rain upstream caused a massive surge of water through the canyon wash. The sudden flood proved completely fatal for the unsuspecting hikers.

The Hero Caught Off-Guard

When authorities identified the victims, the news sent massive shockwaves through the local community. The patriarch of the family was Spencer.

Spencer had served with the fire department for more than twelve years as a professionally trained first responder. He was an expert in managing crisis situations, yet he was powerless against the sudden wall of water.

His wife Katrina was killed alongside him, as were their three young sons: Reid, Thayne, and Gage. The entire family had simply gone out to enjoy a weekend getaway together.

The loss hit his fellow first responders with overwhelming force. At the time of the tragedy, Provo firefighters were battling the Babylon wildfire, which was the largest active fire in the United States.

In a deeply moving show of solidarity, firefighters left the active wildfire line to join the search for their missing captain. The sacrifice underscored the profound bond shared among these brave first responders.

As coverage from AP News revealed, tributes quickly poured in from across the state. Neighboring departments, including the Pleasant Grove City Fire Department, offered their support to grief-stricken colleagues.

One Daughter Left to Rebuild

Amid the overwhelming loss, a heartbreaking detail emerged about the family's surviving member. The couple's daughter, Lydia, was not on the trip and became the sole survivor of her family.

In a single afternoon, Lydia lost her father, mother, and all three of her brothers. She is now left to navigate a world without her entire immediate family.

A GoFundMe campaign set up by a close family friend noted that her "life has forever been changed in an instant." The organizer's husband had worked alongside Spencer at the fire department for twelve years.

The fundraiser was established to assist Lydia with immediate costs, including funeral expenses, housing, counseling, daily living, and future education. The surrounding community responded with immense generosity, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support her.