Attendee Electrocuted, Airlifted From Burning Man Amid Heavy Rains

A man was electrocuted Tuesday night at Burning Man and airlifted to a trauma center as heavy rainfall forced organizers to temporarily close the event’s gates, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports.

The incident occurred after 6pm as rain soaked the Black Rock Desert playa, leaving roads impassable and grounds too wet for vehicles, according to Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen. He confirmed that a male attendee was transferred for treatment following an”electrocution” event, though his office said it was struggling to obtain additional details from festival officials.

“It was reported as electrocution,” Allen said. “We were able to verify a male was airlifted for a report of electrocution.”

Burning Man organizers declined to provide information about the man’s condition, citing patient confidentiality. They instead provided a boilerplate statement to RGJ in which they said the safety of participants and staff remained their “utmost priority” and praised their Emergency Services Department for responding “immediately to all calls for emergency medical service, including during adverse weather conditions.”

The gates to Black Rock City reopened Wednesday morning around 11:30am, though organizers warned that travel time could still take several hours and some areas remained wet. The entrance had been closed since Tuesday evening, with traffic on State Route 447 turned back approximately 50 miles south of the festival site.

The National Weather Service forecasts slight chances of additional showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday before drier weather takes hold later in the week. Sunny skies are expected through the weekend, with highs in the 80s.

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