Authorities are currently investigating the death of a woman at the Burning Man festival in northern Nevada. The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office reported that emergency responders were alerted to a woman found unresponsive around noon on Sunday in Black Rock City, the temporary city created for the festival, located approximately 100 miles north of Reno.
Attempts to revive the woman by the Burning Man Project’s emergency services were unsuccessful. Festival organizers expressed their condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragic incident and confirmed their full cooperation with local authorities during the investigation.
Historically, there have been about six other reported deaths at the festival since its relocation from San Francisco’s Baker Beach to the Black Rock Desert in 1990. Notably, last year a 32-year-old man from California died, reportedly due to drug intoxication after being discovered unresponsive on-site.
Sheriff Jerry Allen stated that the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s death will be thoroughly investigated until the cause and manner are established, with updates following the autopsy. He also indicated that the woman’s identity would not be disclosed until her family had been notified.
The festival, which features wilderness camping and a week-long celebration of art, commenced early Sunday after gates were closed for 12 hours due to rain and muddy conditions. Approximately 20,000 attendees were present on the playa before the official opening to ticket-holders.
Running through September 2, Burning Man is expected to attract over 70,000 attendees this year. The event, renowned for its vibrant theme camps, sculptures, drum circles, and avant-garde performances, has grown significantly since 1995 when around 4,000 people attended, reaching 50,000 in 2010 and temporarily becoming Nevada’s third-largest city after Las Vegas and Reno.
The 2023 festival marked its 35th anniversary, drawing an estimated 73,000 participants in addition to 95,000 individuals attending regional events worldwide. This year’s event faced disruptions due to a protest blockade and muddy conditions that hampered movement, leading authorities to request attendees remain in place until the weather improved.
Past fatalities at Burning Man include incidents such as a woman being struck by a bus in 2014, and an attendee who fell under a trailer in 2007. Additionally, in 1996, a friend of co-founder Larry Harvey was killed in a motorcycle accident at the festival.