Authorities are looking into the death of a woman who participated in the Burning Man festival in northern Nevada’s desert.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday that emergency services were called to Black Rock City, the temporary camp for the festival, around noon on Sunday after a woman was discovered unresponsive. The location is roughly 100 miles north of Reno.
Emergency personnel from the Burning Man Project attempted life-saving measures but were unable to revive her. Festival organizers expressed their condolences to the woman’s family and friends, adding that they are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation by local authorities.
Since its relocation to the Black Rock desert in 1990, there have been approximately half a dozen reported deaths at the festival. Last year, a 32-year-old man from California reportedly died from suspected drug intoxication on the festival grounds.
Sheriff Jerry Allen indicated that the investigation into Sunday’s death will continue until the cause and manner of death are determined, with updates expected after an autopsy. The woman’s identity and age will be withheld until her relatives are notified.
The Burning Man festival, celebrated for its unique blend of wilderness camping and artistic expression, commenced early Sunday after a 12-hour closure due to rain and muddy conditions. Roughly 20,000 people were already present before the gates opened to all ticket-holders.
Running until September 2, this year’s festival is anticipated to attract over 70,000 attendees. From its modest origins of around 4,000 participants in 1995, Burning Man has grown significantly, becoming Nevada’s third-largest city during the event, surpassing both Las Vegas and Reno.
In 2023, the 35th annual festival had an estimated 73,000 attendees, alongside 95,000 additional participants in related global events. The event itself faced disruptions this year, including a protest blockade addressed by local authorities, along with rain that transformed the playa into mud, complicating mobility.
Historical reported fatalities at Burning Man include a 2014 incident where a woman was struck by a bus and a 2007 case of an attendee who fell under a trailer. In 1996, a collision occurred that claimed the life of a friend of co-founder Larry Harvey while riding a motorcycle at night.