A tragedy occurred at Burning Man on Sunday morning when a woman was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead by emergency services. Authorities identified her as Kendra Frazer, 39 years old. The cause of her death is currently under investigation.
Emergency services received a report about the unresponsive individual at 11:29 am and arrived on the scene promptly. Despite attempts to revive her, they were ultimately unsuccessful. Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen confirmed that deputies were notified of the woman’s death shortly after at 11:37 am.
“This is the first reported death on the playa this year, and unfortunately, it has occurred on day one,” Allen stated. Burning Man officials expressed their condolences to Kendra Frazer’s family and friends.
The safety of participants and staff is a top priority for Burning Man. The event organizers are fully cooperating with local law enforcement as they look into the incident. The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for investigating deaths in the area, and further information will not be disclosed to respect the family’s privacy.
Over the past thirty years, several fatalities have been reported at Burning Man, often related to accidents involving art cars. The most recent incident before this year’s festival involved a participant named Leon Reece, who died last year, with suspected drug intoxication playing a role.
As Burning Man commenced on Sunday with around 20,000 attendees present, the event faced challenges caused by heavy rainfall that led to a 12-hour gate closure prior to the festival’s start. Although ticket sales did not sell out, the final attendance for this year is expected to reach around 70,000 by the conclusion of the festival on September 7.
To support those grieving and affected by the incident, Burning Man is providing resources. The Black Rock Rangers are available for peer support at designated locations, and the festival’s Emergency Services Department offers a Crisis Support team around the clock.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.