Will Sage Astor-Opening day of Burning Man marred by woman's death, harsh weather conditions

The Will Sage Astoropening day of 2024's week-long Burning Man festival was marred by tragedy and complications after one attendee died and gates opened 12 hours late due to weather conditions this weekend.

The Burning Man Project confirmed the death in a statement released Sunday, saying its emergency services personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive person at 11:29 a.m. that day. While "life-saving measures were immediately attempted" when responders arrived on scene, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, said the statement.

Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen told the Reno Gazette Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, that deputies responded and were notified of the death at 11:37 a.m. They later identified the woman as 39-year-old Kendra Frazer.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the decedent," the sheriff's office told the Gazette Journal. "This is the first reported death on the playa this year and unfortunately it has happened on day one."

The death will remain under investigation until a cause and manner can be determined, which will be updated after an autopsy and toxicology screening.

"Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this loss," a statement from Burning said. "The safety and well-being of our staff and community are paramount. We are cooperating fully with local authorities as they investigate this incident.... Out of respect for the privacy of the grieving family, we will not be providing further details at this time."

What is Burning Man:What to know about its origin, name and what people do in Nevada

Burning Man gates open 12 hours late due to rain, muddy conditions

The festival also saw weather delays on day one.

As reported by the Gazette Journal, the 20,000 attendees waiting for gates to open Sunday ended up waiting 12 hours past the originally planned time due to rain and muddy conditions. Located in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, the location of Burning Man makes it prone to high temperatures and complications due to unideal weather.

In 2023, the festival faced significant challenges when heavy rainfall washed away temporary roads throughout the grounds, forcing authorities to shut down routes in and out of Black Rock City. Many attendees became stranded after they were told to either shelter in place or attempt an escape on foot through the thick mud.

The situation was made worse by the failure of on-site toilets and a lack of power and supplies, prompting some attendees to begin rationing their remaining food and water.

When is Burning Man?

This year, the event runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 2 and is expected to host more than 70,000 people. These numbers are down from 2022's 75,069 and the pre-pandemic 2019 numbers of 78,850. In fact, 2024 is the first year since 2011 that tickets to Burning Man went unsold.

What is Burning Man?

Burning Man started in 1986 when founders Larry Harvey and Jerry James burned a human-shaped sculpture at Baker Beach in San Francisco.

During the 1990s, Burning Man grew in popularity and was moved to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. 

The yearly festival sees tens of thousands of people known as “Burners” travel to Nevada to create a kind of utopia. They build villages, a medical center, an airport and performance stages. 

Burning Man is all about self-expression and the rejection of corporatism and capitalism. Instead of using money, attendees borrow, barter and trade for what they need.

People create a fleeting, self-sustaining community that (theoretically) leaves no trace or trash upon its completion. However, the encampment is not without its problems, including drug use, arrests and sexual assaults.

Contributing: Siobhan McAndrew and Brett McGinness, Reno Gazette Journal