A woman was found unresponsive at Burning Man on Sunday morning and was declared dead by emergency services.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Department has identified the woman as Kendra Frazer, 39. The cause of her death is under investigation.
Emergency services were alerted to the situation at 11:29 a.m. and promptly responded, but life-saving efforts were unsuccessful. Sheriff Jerry Allen mentioned that authorities were informed of the death at 11:37 a.m.
“This is the first reported death on the playa this year, occurring on day one,” Allen told local media. Burning Man has expressed condolences to Frazer’s family and friends.
The safety of attendees is a top priority for the event organizers, who are collaborating with local authorities on the investigation. The Pershing County Sheriff’s office is responsible for examining all deaths within its jurisdiction. Out of respect for the family, further details have not been disclosed.
Over the past three decades, Burning Man has seen multiple fatalities, often related to accidents with art vehicles. The most recent was Leon Reece from Truckee, who died last year, reportedly due to drug intoxication.
This year’s festival began with 20,000 attendees but faced delays due to rain, which caused a 12-hour gate closure. Although this year’s attendance is expected to be lower with remaining tickets still available, approximately 70,000 people are anticipated to be present until the festival ends on September 7.
Burning Man is providing support services for those in need during this challenging time. The Black Rock Rangers offer peer support, and the Crisis Support team from Black Rock City’s Emergency Services Department is available around the clock.
This is a developing news story, and updates will be provided as they become available.