Tragedy struck during the 2017 edition of Burning Man this past weekend. A first-time attendee of the annual Black Rock City, Nevada festival named Aaron Joel Mitchell has died after running into the fire of the Temple burn ceremony.
According to Pershing County Sherriff Jerry Alan, the 41-year-old had run through two rows of guards and into the burning remains of the structure before falling down. He was pulled from the fire and treated before being transported to the festival’s onsite medical unit before being airlifted 300 miles to the UC Davis Firefighters Burn Institute Regional Burn Center. He died shortly after his arrival on the morning of Sunday, September 3rd.
In response to the incident, local lawmakers called for 350 more guards to be sent around the perimeter of the Temple burn for the remainder of the event. Burning Man officials exceeded the number by almost double, stationing 600 around the effigy in addition to installing a makeshift fence.
Aaron Joel Mitchell had reportedly not been drinking at the time of the incident, but toxicology reports are still pending. Burning Man organizers and local authorities are still conducting their own investigation into his death at this time.
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal
