On Monday, officials announced an investigation into the death of a woman at the Burning Man festival, which takes place annually in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada. The woman was found unresponsive on Sunday, the first day of the event. Personnel from the Burning Man Project attempted life-saving measures but were unable to revive her. Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen stated that the investigation will continue until the cause and manner of death are determined, with updates expected following an autopsy. The woman’s identity and age will be withheld until her relatives have been informed.
Burning Man organizers expressed their condolences in a statement: “Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this loss. We are cooperating fully with local authorities as they investigate. Out of respect for the privacy of the grieving family, we will not be providing further details at this time.”
The festival, which merges wilderness camping with a weeklong art celebration, began on Sunday after the gates reopened following a 12-hour closure due to rain and muddy conditions. Approximately 20,000 attendees were already on-site prior to the official opening to ticket-holders. The event is anticipated to draw more than 70,000 participants this year, running through September 2.
Since relocating from Baker Beach in San Francisco to the Black Rock Desert in 1990, around six other fatalities have been reported at the festival. Last year, 32-year-old Leon Reece from Truckee, California, died from suspected drug intoxication after being found unresponsive at the event.