Search called off after missing Utah family of 5 found safe in canyon near wildfire

PERRY, Utah – A Utah family of five that had been missing in a remote canyon where a wildfire was burning was found alive and well on Wednesday.

Authorities found the family at 11:30 a.m. at the bottom of Perry Canyon, about 55 miles north of Salt Lake City, The Salt Lake Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/123tJHb ).

The discovery provided a happy ending to a story that looked like it might turn grim.

On Tuesday night, relatives called the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office to inform them that the family didn't meet them at a trailhead as planned. The family had been dropped off on Monday with the plan of hiking in and camping overnight and then hiking back out.

A search was launched Tuesday night with dogs and a helicopter while firefighters fought a small wildfire in the same area.

Authorities feared the family may be in the path of the wildfire, which was being battled by a crew of 20 firefighters.

But it turns out the family was found a safe distance away from the wildfire, authorities said Wednesday.

It's not yet clear why the family got stranded and didn't make the hike out.

The family has been identified as Holly Cowcert and her daughter Mandy, 12, and David Cowcert and his two sons, Polo, 13, and Nate 12, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The family lives in Perry, a small city of about 4,500 people.