Storm forces 73,000 ‘Burners’ to shelter in place

Federal officials shut down the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert Saturday after torrential rains turned the site of the annual arts and music event into a treacherous, muddy pit and organizers told more than 73,000 participants to shelter in place.

Those heading to the festival this weekend were told to “turn around and head home,” by the federal Bureau of Land Management, the public agency which manages the land where the event is held.

“Rain over the last 24 hours has created a situation that required a full stop of vehicle movement on the playa,” the BLM said in a statement announcing the closure of access roads.

“More rain is expected over the next few days and conditions are not expected to improve enough to allow vehicles to enter the playa.”

Earlier, organizers had told participants to conserve their food and water, and banned vehicles from roads as Burners, as participants are known, spent the night huddled in mud-streaked tents and RVs.

Temperatures dropped into the low 50s, according to USA TODAY.

“No driving is permitted on playa except for emergency vehicles,” event organizers said in a 5 a.m. statement Saturday.

“If you are in (Black Rock City), please shelter in place and stay safe.”

They added separately: “If you are in BRC, conserve food and water, shelter in a warm space.”

Participants are expected to provide their own food, water and shelter for the duration of the event.

Inclement weather, brought on by the remnants of Hurricane Hilary, also forced the closure of a small airport and halted cleaning services to the thousands of portable toilets used by Burning Man attendees, according to the newspaper.

The storm left many without cell phone service, the newspaper reported.

Photos showing mud-splattered vehicles and roads marked by deep muddy puddles, drew comparisons to the ill-fated 2017 Fyre Festival in the Bahamas that saw its organizer, Billy McFarland, sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and using fake documents to fool investors out of $26 million.

The Burning Man event, which began Aug. 27, is scheduled to end Monday with a mass departure known as Exodus.