Former smokejumper Spencer Long (GAC-07) and four family members were killed on Friday, July 17, after flash floods barreled through a scenic Utah canyon where they’d been hiking. Long, his wife, Katrina, and their three sons, Reid, Thayne, and Gage, had arrived at the popular Sunglow Campground near the town of Bicknell around 11:30 a.m., and within hours were swept away by flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

Officials were called to the area at around 5 p.m. Friday, when a body was discovered in a flooded wash near the campground. The next day, authorities announced that search and rescue teams had recovered all five individuals.

The Longs lived in Provo, UT, where Spencer Long was a captain with the city’s fire department.

“We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family,” read a statement released by Provo Fire & Rescue. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

A daughter, Lydia, was not on the hiking trip. Friends quickly set up a GoFundMe page to help support her through the tragedy’s aftermath.

The National Weather Service had issued a flash-flood watch for the area, emphasizing the potential for life-threatening dangers in slot canyons and washes. But friends of the family noted that the Longs may not have been aware that the threat applied to the area around Sunglow Campground.
Spencer Long enjoyed outdoor adventure and was drawn to the excitement and risk of smokejumping.

“For me, anything in my life and my personality, whatever the top is, that’s where I want to go, whatever’s the most extreme,” Long said in a YouTube video posted in 2021. “That’s just my nature. I saw [smokejumping], and I thought, that’s what I want to do.”

Long was a hotshot for two years before applying to the smokejumper program at several bases. Determined to get in, he drove hundreds of miles to each one so he could personally introduce himself.

It was during a break from a fire class in Provo that he got a phone call inviting him to join the smokejumper program in Grangeville. When class resumed, an elated Long stood up to tell the classroom what had just happened.

Long arrived in Grangeville for the fire season of 2007. He called rookie training in Missoula “the best time of my life and the hardest as well.” He had a total of three fire jumps, breaking his shoulder on a rock at the end of the final one.

He left the smokejumper program after that, returning to Utah, where he earned a degree in public emergency service management and built a career in fire. After further training as a paramedic, he was accepted into the Provo Fire Department.

He remained proud of his smokejumper service.

“To this day, if there’s one thing I could say about smokejumping…I would say it was one of the greatest achievements in my life, hands down,” he said in the YouTube video. “Besides being married and having kids.” –Jill Leger

On behalf of the members and Board of Directors of the National Smokejumper Association, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Captain Spencer Long (GAC-07) of Provo Fire & Rescue. Captain Long, his wife Katrina, and their three sons, Reid, Thayne, and Gage, tragically lost their lives in a flash flood in Utah on July 17.

It is with equal sadness that we announce the passing of Steve Nemore (RAC-69), who died peacefully at his home in Virginia on July 21, surrounded by his family.

Additional information honoring both Spencer Long and Steve Nemore will be shared in separate posts in the coming days.

The members of the NSA send their deepest condolences and support to Lydia Vernon, the surviving daughter of the Long family, to Elizabeth Nemore, Steve’s wife, and to all of their families, friends, and fellow firefighters during this time of profound loss.

Mike Bina
President

View NSA news article about Spencer Long

STATEMENT FROM
The National Smokejumper Association

On behalf of the men and women members of the National Smokejumper Association (NSA) and its board of directors, I offer our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and crewmates of Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson, the three wildland firefighters killed Saturday while fighting the Snyder Fire along the Colorado-Utah border to protect lives, communities, natural resources, and public lands.

Emily, 38, from Clinton Township, Michigan; Nick, 27, from Glendale, Arizona; and Sydney, 26, from Warrior, Alabama, were members of a Helitack crew conducting initial attack operations when fire overtook their position. Their loss is felt across the entire wildland fire community. The NSA stands with their families during this difficult time. Two other crew members survived with serious burn injuries. We also wish a full recovery to the two injured firefighters still receiving care.

Mike Bina
President, National Smokejumper Association

Fred is an avid history buff. Five years ago, he started researching and documenting the history of one of the smokejumper bases in Oregon. While doing this, he discovered a thorough research of the relevant events leading up to the successful Smokejumper Experiment in 1939 had not been completed and documented. Nor had the trials and tribulations during the 58 jumps in the fall of 1939 in Winthrop, Washington, or the biographies of the 16 men who made the experiment successful.

At the conclusion of the Spring 2026 NSA Board of Directors meeting, NSA President Mike Bina honored longtime board member Fred Cooper upon his retirement after 25 years of dedicated service.

Fred played a key leadership role in the NSA’s TRAMPS trail-improvement program for many years, while also contributing to numerous other initiatives. Several fellow board members joined President Bina in recognizing Fred’s outstanding contributions during the meeting.

On December 18, 2025, the President signed the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, a bipartisan measure expanding federal benefits for families of wildland firefighters killed or permanently disabled by certain cancers.

The law applies retroactively to cases from January 1, 2020, onward and treats these cancers as job-related under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program.

Cancers Covered Include: Bladder, brain, breast, cervical, colon/colorectal, esophageal, kidney, leukemia, lung, melanoma, mesothelioma, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian, prostate, skin, stomach, testicular, and thyroid.

 Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of service before diagnosis.
• Diagnosis within 15 years of last active service.

 Claims must be filed within 3 years of the date of death OR by December 18, 2028.

 Please share with anyone who may be affected.

Smokejumper Sam Forstag (NCSB-22) is running for Congress. The Democrat will run in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, competing for the seat currently held by Republican Ryan Zinke.

     Forstag’s January 5 announcement captured the attention of the national media, with CBS News floating the prospect of “a Montana smokejumper” flipping a reliably red district in this fall’s midterms.

     Forstag, 31, said he wants to focus on the party’s roots.

     “If the Democratic Party can’t win working-class people, it’s not going to be the sort of party that I would want to be a part of for much longer,” he told CBS. “I think the Democratic Party…seems to have forgotten about what I see as the most fundamentally important kind of representation, which is economic representation.” 

     Born in Ohio and raised in Portland, OR, Forstag has lived in Montana since 2012 and currently resides in Missoula. A 2017 graduate of the University of Montana, he serves as a union VP representing some 800 USFS workers. His experience as a lobbyist and legislative strategist includes stints at the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and several years helping write legislation for various Montana non-profits.

     Forstag won state-wide attention in April 2025, when he spoke at a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Missoula hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Forstag’s speech focusing on Trump Administration cuts to federal land-management agencies drew loud applause.

     “When I talk to my coworkers today, I hear a lot of people who are trying real hard just to hold onto hope, because right now, the people who give their lives to public lands and public service are under attack,” he told the audience.

     Forstag has received official endorsements from both Sen. Sanders and Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), who is also his aunt.

     The rookie politician has his work cut out for him. On the heels of his announcement, Zinke’s social media team likened him to leftist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani, asserting that Forstag “may have national money, but he won’t have Montana’s votes.”

     Forstag jumped at NCSB (2022-23) and Missoula (2024-25).

Sam Forstag Launches Congressional Bid

Smokejumper Sam Forstag (NCSB-22) is running for Congress. The Democrat will run in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, competing for the seat currently held by Republican Ryan Zinke.

     Forstag’s January 5 announcement captured the attention of the national media, with CBS News floating the prospect of “a Montana smokejumper” flipping a reliably red district in this fall’s midterms.

     Forstag, 31, said he wants to focus on the party’s roots.

     “If the Democratic Party can’t win working-class people, it’s not going to be the sort of party that I would want to be a part of for much longer,” he told CBS. “I think the Democratic Party…seems to have forgotten about what I see as the most fundamentally important kind of representation, which is economic representation.” 

     Born in Ohio and raised in Portland, OR, Forstag has lived in Montana since 2012 and currently resides in Missoula. A 2017 graduate of the University of Montana, he serves as a union VP representing some 800 USFS workers. His experience as a lobbyist and legislative strategist includes stints at the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and several years helping write legislation for various Montana non-profits.

     Forstag won state-wide attention in April 2025, when he spoke at a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Missoula hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Forstag’s speech focusing on Trump Administration cuts to federal land-management agencies drew loud applause.

     “When I talk to my coworkers today, I hear a lot of people who are trying real hard just to hold onto hope, because right now, the people who give their lives to public lands and public service are under attack,” he told the audience.

     Forstag has received official endorsements from both Sen. Sanders and Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), who is also his aunt.

     The rookie politician has his work cut out for him. On the heels of his announcement, Zinke’s social media team likened him to leftist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani, asserting that Forstag “may have national money, but he won’t have Montana’s votes.”

     Forstag jumped at NCSB (2022-23) and Missoula (2024-25).

The following letter was sent to congressional leaders by NSA President Mike Bina on behalf of the NSA, in support of the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 3170). This legislation would allow Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to authorize and treat federal employees (including all wildland firefighters) who are injured on the job under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). 

Currently, only medical doctors can authorize and provide medical services under the FECA. This becomes a problem, especially in rural areas where smokejumpers and others have to travel great distances to be seen by a medical doctor when nurse practitioners and physicians are more readily available and accessible. 

Announcement

Smokejumper Reunion 2025 Attendees:

You may now download FREE electronic reunion photos or purchase professional photos from the following site: 

IMPORTANT NOTE #1:  If you are not comfortable performing online operations, have a friend assist you.

To Download Free Electronic Photos: 

1. Once you are at the above listed site, click “VIEW GALLERY.”
2. From selections across the top of the page that comes up, click the “Awards” or the base photo set you want to view.
3. When you find the the specific photo you want in a set, click on the photo, it will enlarge.
4. Click The Downward Pointing Arrow to the left of the “BUY PHOTO” box, and follow the instructions.

To Purchase Professional Photos

1. Follow steps 1 through 3 above.
2. Click the “BUY PHOTO” option and follow the instructions.

IMPORTANT NOTE #2:  Once you have chosen a print to purchase, you have numerous options from which to choose. They may be printed in various shapes and sizes, they may be framed in various ways or not, etc. Click on “PRINT SHOP” to view your options and make your selections.

Iain Hoey,
fireandsafetyjournalamericas.com

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Senate approves amendment to enhance wildfire detection efforts

The U.S. Senate has passed Senator Alex Padilla’s amendment to enhance the FireGuard program as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.

The NDAA had previously passed the House of Representatives and now awaits President Biden’s signature.

The FireGuard program, operated by the National Guard, uses Department of Defense satellites to detect wildfires and distribute unclassified information to firefighting networks.

The amendment enables the Department of Defense to enter contracts or cooperative agreements with government and civilian entities to further support and sustain the program.

Enhanced collaboration for FireGuard program

According to Senator Padilla, the amendment also allows for collaboration with civilian initiatives deploying low-earth orbit satellite constellations to improve data quality for wildfire detection.

“As the West suffers from increasingly severe and frequent wildfires, we need to advance our commitment to protecting our communities and environment,” said Padilla.

“The FireGuard program is a crucial tool for using military satellites to combat wildfires, but we need every partner we can to maintain and build upon the program.”

The amendment also requires the Department of Defense to provide Congress with a report evaluating the program’s use of this new authority and identifying opportunities to incorporate civilian capacity further into FireGuard.

Padilla’s ongoing wildfire response initiatives

This legislation builds on Padilla’s previous efforts to strengthen wildfire responses at federal and state levels.

He has supported measures such as the FIRE Act, which became law in 2022, and secured billions in funding for wildfire response and drought relief under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Additionally, Padilla’s work expedited the transfer of seven C-130 firefighting aircraft to California, which became operational this summer to combat wildfires.

He has also introduced the Fire Suppression Improvement Act, aimed at reducing the financial burden on state and local governments responding to wildfires.

Summary: FireGuard wildfire detection program receives expanded authority

The Senate has passed Senator Alex Padilla’s amendment to expand the FireGuard program under the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025.

The program uses military satellites to detect wildfires and provides critical data to firefighting networks.

The amendment allows the Department of Defense to collaborate with government and civilian entities to enhance the program and requires a report to Congress on these efforts.

The legislation builds on Padilla’s prior wildfire response initiatives, including the FIRE Act and increased funding for wildfire preparedness and relief.