Firefighters, community honor Provo captain and family killed in flash flood

PROVO — Firefighters from departments across northern Utah lined overpasses Tuesday to honor Provo Fire Capt. Spencer Long and four members of his family who were killed in a flash flood during a weekend camping and hiking trip in Wayne County.

A procession organized by Provo Fire and Rescue brought Long, his wife Katrina, and their sons Gage and Thayne, along with stepson Reid Vernon, on their final journey home. The family died after being overtaken by floodwaters near Bicknell.

“Our department is heartbroken,” said Provo Fire Chief Jeremy Headman. “I know that many are mourning alongside us.”

From Taylorsville to Spanish Fork, dozens of fire departments participated in the tribute, stopping along the route to pay their respects to one of their own.

In South Jordan and Bluffdale, firefighters stood atop fire engines and saluted as the procession passed. In Lehi, firefighters raised two ladder trucks and suspended a large American flag between them, creating a ceremonial arch for the escort vehicles.

Related: Donations pour in for woman who lost five family members in southern Utah flash flood

The procession ended at a funeral home in Spanish Fork where family members, friends and community supporters gathered to remember a family many described as deeply loved and involved in their community.

“Having worked in law enforcement, these are our brothers,” said JD Wood, who came to watch the procession with his son, Hudson. “I just wanted my son to come out here and to understand that heroes deserve to be remembered. And this is just a small way that me and him can remember the firefighter and his family and give them that respect they deserve.”

Spencer Long worked for Provo Fire and Rescue for 17 years, attaining the rank of captain two years ago.

 

 

Headman said Long wore many hats in the department, from firefighter to paramedic to airport fireman to wildland team engine boss.

According to the chief, Long also served with Utah Task Force 1, a highly specialized team utilized for urban search and rescue operations.

“He was one of the people in our department who just did everything,” Headman told reporters. “His absence will be a big loss to us.”

Wood said he had several interactions with Spencer Long.

“I worked in the emergency department, and I would see him come in a few different times bringing patients in. And he always had a smile on his face,” he said. “He loved what he did.”

Still, those who knew him said his greatest pride was his family.

“What stood out about Capt. Long was his love of his family,” Headman said. “He spent an enormous amount of time out in the outdoors with his boys riding dirt bikes. They were big into hockey. He was continuously driving them from Mona to Provo to play hockey.”

Katrina Long had two children from a previous marriage, Reid and Lydia Vernon. Friends said Spencer Long embraced both children as his own when he married Katrina. The couple later had two sons together, Gage and Thayne.

One family member was not on the trip. Vernon, 23, who lives in Kentucky near her father and stepmom, survived because she was not camping with the family at the time of the flooding.

Since the tragedy, firefighters, police officers and community members have rallied around her. Shortly after the deaths, the Long family’s front yard in Mona was covered with American flags. When Vernon returned to Utah, first responders and their families lined the street to welcome her home.

A fundraiser* created to support Vernon had raised nearly $270,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Organizers said the scale of the response highlighted Long’s impact on the fire service as well as the deep connections within Utah’s firefighting community.

According to a Provo City spokesperson, more details about an upcoming funeral were expected to be released sometime on Wednesday afternoon and would be shared publicly when available.

For many honoring the family, the tragedy has been a reminder that first responders are more than the uniforms they wear.

“Something I always try to remember is that behind every single badge is a family,” Wood said. “A family whose worst nightmare is to get a phone call that their loved one has passed away, whether it was on duty or off duty; family is everything.”

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