Michael Harp Obituary – A Utah fire captain, identified as Michael Harp, passed away in a rafting accident in Colorado this week. Captain Harp, a 27-year veteran of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, was rafting on the Green River when the accident occurred. He was a second-generation firefighter who dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Salt Lake City and his fellow firefighters. Harp’s legacy of service, leadership, compassion, and laughter will always be remembered.
The Salt Lake City Fire Department expressed condolences to his family and urged the public to respect their privacy during this time. The National Park Service confirmed Harp’s identity as the individual who tragically lost his life in Dinosaur National Monument. The incident occurred during a private permitted trip on the Green River. After the boat was pinned against a rock, Harp drifted downriver without his lifejacket.
His body was recovered 10 miles downstream the following day. Dinosaur National Monument, spanning over 210,000 acres in Utah and Colorado, is renowned for whitewater rafting on the Green and Yampa rivers.