Burning Man Says It’s a Local Partner - Commissioners Say, “Not So Fast”

Read below to learn more about the event of the year - "Burning Man"

Rachel Dahl
Yesterday, 09:28 AM

Burning Man Says It’s a Local Partner - Commissioners Say, “Not So Fast” — In a comprehensive report to the Pershing County Commission, Sam Burton, District Manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Winnemucca Office, and Jonah Blustain Field Office Manager, from the Black Rock Field Office, outlined a busy summer ahead for the BLM—spanning everything from wildfire readiness and mining projects to geothermal leasing and trail cleanup efforts.
The BLM’s fire readiness remains a top priority this season, with six wildfires already reported in the district in the past week alone. Burton told commissioners the rookie firefighter boot camp recently held at Water Canyon was successful, and new BLM crew members are now fully trained and deployed.
“We’re expecting a very busy fire season,” Burton said. “But we’re staffed and ready.”
This year, Burton reported, the Winnemucca District has two engines based in Lovelock, six engines in Winnemucca, one engine in McDermitt. They also have on tap, with three dozer modules, two water tenders, and four battalion chiefs.
Additionally, the Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) base in Winnemucca is open, with two SEATs available for rapid air suppression.
BLM is continuing joint training drills with local departments, including Grass Valley, Winnemucca Rural, and Winnemucca Volunteer Fire Departments. Fire officials emphasized the importance of cross-agency coordination as the region heads into the heart of fire season.
Blustain provided updates on Black Rock Field Office recreation efforts, including preparations for National Trails Day, which took place June 7.
Crews focused on Stevens Camp and Little High Rock Canyon, conducting tree removal and trail clearing to improve public access. Further crews will return starting July 3 to monitor the area and continue cleanup and safety efforts.
“We want to make sure these areas are safe and welcoming for summer recreation,” Blustain said.
Burton noted that there are no wild horse or burro gathers currently scheduled for the Pershing County area. The Bluing H Herd Management Area Plan is still in its public comment period, which will close mid-June.
Several mining and energy projects affecting Pershing County are advancing through the BLM’s review process:
• The Spring Valley Gold Mine project is nearing a key milestone. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been submitted to the EPA for publication, with a Notice of Availability expected to appear in the Federal Register on Friday, June 13. The Record of Decision is expected about 30 days later.
• The Collins Gold Mine Plan remains under review.
• The Wildcat Exploration Plan has completed its Environmental Assessment (EA) and is posted on the BLM’s ePlanning site. The Memorandum of Agreement is still under review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
On the energy side, the Geothermal Lease Sale for parcels in the district is still scheduled for October 2025.
“Just because a parcel is leased doesn’t mean development is imminent,” Burton clarified. “This is just the first step in a very long process.”
The BLM also completed road improvements in the northern portion of the district, including Panther Canyon and Sonoma Canyon roads.
In response to a question from the commission, Burton said BLM cannot use local airports for fire support without a signed agreement in place.
“The purpose of the SEAT base in Winnemucca is to handle fuel and retardant,” he said. “If Pershing County is interested in making its airport available, that’s a good conversation to have.”

Eighty days out from the annual Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert, representatives from the Burning Man Project appeared before the Pershing County Commission with a familiar pitch: a reaffirmation of their partnership with local agencies, a rundown of financial contributions, and a plea to renegotiate direct funding to the county.

But the reception was frostier than in years past.

Katie Hoffman, agency relations manager for the nonprofit behind Burning Man, and Greg Herrera, law enforcement liaison, outlined a series of community benefits provided by the event, ranging from fuel, meals, and on-site logistics for law enforcement, to nearly $150,000 in local donations over the past decade.

“Since 2014, we’ve paid over $2.25 million to Pershing County for our events,” Hoffman said. “When we had a direct contract, the county received not just reimbursement for law enforcement, but funds that could be used for public projects, programming, and community priorities.”

In 2023, the county received $190,000 above law enforcement costs under the now-expired agreement. But in 2024, the arrangement changed: Burning Man now pays the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which in turn contracts with the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office. That federal contract included a 20% administration fee, approximately $52,000, that once went directly to the county but is now retained by the federal government.

Herrera emphasized that the shift has created a barrier. “We’d rather see that money go back to the county, not Washington,” he said. “There are fewer resources now for the very people who help make this event safe and successful.”

Despite the polished presentation and acknowledgment of local law enforcement’s professionalism, the commissioners were not quick to sympathize.

“You’re claiming to be a benefactor to Pershing County, but we’re not subsidizing you,” Commissioner Chuck Sayles said. “It feels like we’re being treated as a charity case, when in reality, we’re hosting a massive event that takes a year-round toll on our people and resources.”

He questioned why other large-scale events across other counties in Nevada, including Clark, remit a portion of ticket sales directly to host jurisdictions, while Pershing County is instead left to negotiate for residuals.

“There should be a fee structure, a per-ticket cut, just like any other county would require,” Sayles said. “You’re selling tens of thousands of tickets. We shouldn’t have to ask nicely for a share; we should have event fees.”

Burning Man’s attendance has declined in recent years, dropping to 69,000 in 2024—down from 75,000 in 2022, and below the 80,000-participant cap. The decrease has created financial strain for the organization, which described “multimillion dollar budget shortfalls” and cuts to internal operations.

Still, the county’s frustration didn’t center on Burning Man’s financial woes. It centered on what commissioners viewed as a misalignment of benefit and burden.

“Let’s be clear,” Commissioner Connie Gottschalk said. “This is not a 10-day event for us. It’s a year-round logistical operation, and there’s no clear recognition of that in your current arrangement.”

The tension escalated during a discussion of past donations. Burning Man attempted to make contributions to local nonprofits after the 2023 event but was directed not to do so, they claimed, due to policy concerns raised by the county.

“We were disappointed to be told not to donate,” Hoffman said. “We’ve supported the library, the senior center, the food bank, these are groups that matter.”

In response, commissioners raised concerns about whether such donations created inappropriate influence or masked imbalances in how public costs are absorbed.

The presentation closed with another offer from Burning Man: to meet with the sheriff, district attorney, and commissioners to work toward a new contract that might return funding directly to the county.

For now, no formal negotiations have been scheduled.