Community posts shared on Reddit and in Burning Man–focused Facebook groups this week describe a serious electrocution incident on the playa that has reignited a long-running conversation about camp power safety.
According to the accounts circulating among attendees and camp organizers, the person was barefoot on a metal stairway and holding a metal handrail when they stepped into conductive salt-water mud. A first responder at the scene is reported to have revived the individual, and later posts from community members say the person subsequently passed away in hospital. Several people in the online threads have posted photos of camp wiring they say contributed to the accident.
The discussion highlights how easily festival power setups can become dangerous in wet conditions and how quickly a small wiring error or exposed connection can become lethal. Posts from experienced camp power leads and first responders urged sober, practical steps rather than blame — and recommended immediate changes many camps can adopt before next season.
What the community is recommending (practical takeaways):
- Carry and use non-contact voltage tester pens to quickly tell whether a cable, pole, or puddle is energized.
- Invest in waterproof junctions and weatherproof connectors for all outdoor electrical runs.
- If heavy rain makes the playa conductive — shut power down until you can visually inspect and dry connections. Don’t assume a system is safe just because it worked earlier.
- Train multiple people (not just a single power lead) in safe shutdown, inspection, and basic electrical hazard recognition.
- Limit runs of high-amperage feeds and clearly label distribution panels and endpoints so volunteers know when they’re near a hot line.
The community posts praise the first responders and organizers who helped on site and called for broader education across theme camps so similar tragedies can be prevented. Several veteran campers also reported making practical upgrades after previous incidents — waterproof gear, redundant safety checks, and stricter policies about leaving power on in poor weather.
We have not posted private photos or personal details from those threads. For official confirmation or updates about any injuries, check Burning Man’s official channels and local emergency services. In the meantime, if you run power at festivals, treat wet conditions and exposed wiring as an immediate red flag — and consider adopting the straightforward precautions people are discussing now.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1paqvja/report_on_electrocution_death_2025/