QUICK REFERENCE
MAIN MEDICAL: RAMPART Urgent Care - Esplanade & 5:15 (look for LED-lit RED CROSS) OTHER MEDICAL: 3:00 & C and 9:00 & C Plazas (basic first aid) EMERGENCY RADIO: BRC 911 (all zones) - any staff with radio can call RANGERS HQ: Esplanade & 6:30 (new location for 2025, khaki shirts with Burning Man logo)
MOST COMMON QUESTIONS:
Where's the nearest medical help? → RAMPART (main) or Plaza stations for basic care
How do I contact Rangers? → Find khaki shirt or any staff with radio
Mental health crisis? → Ask for Green Dot Ranger or Crisis Intervention Team
Missing child? → Contact ANY Ranger immediately - they stop all Gate traffic
Emergency off-playa? → RAMPART decides transport; you may go to Renown Regional (Reno)
REMEMBER: All Playa Info managers and shift leads carry radios for emergencies
See detailed locations, procedures, and contact methods below
Also see:
A2: Getting Help Fast (for non-medical emergencies: lockouts, towing, missing property)
F1: External Resources (for hospital locations, jail facilities, legal assistance)
E3: Legal & Behavioral (for law enforcement policies, rights, behavioral expectations)
D1: Accessibility & Inclusion (for mental health services, crisis support, ASL interpretation)
C2: Communication & Information (for emergency message system, radio contacts)
When to escalate beyond this section:
Vehicle emergencies → A2 (lockout, towing, mechanical)
Legal violations → F1 (arrest procedures, legal assistance)
Missing property → A2 (Lost & Found procedures)
Communication needs → C2 (emergency messages, radio protocols)
Medical Services
Medical facilities in Black Rock City are operated by CrowdRx in partnership with the Black Rock City Emergency Services Department. Medical care at RAMPART is provided at no charge to participants, aligning with the event’s gifting principle and ensuring that no one is billed for services received on playa.
Medical services operate from Tuesday, August 19 at 7:00 AM to Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00 PM. During that time, they operate 24 hours a day.
RAMPART Urgent Care (Main Medical Facility)
Location: Esplanade & 5:15 Identification: Large LED-lit RED CROSS on building Services: Most medical emergencies, advanced care Staffing: Mix of clinical (RNs, MDs, PAs, NPs) and field (EMT, Paramedic) volunteers
Plaza Medical Stations
Locations: 3:00 & C and 9:00 & C Identification: LED-lit RED CROSSES on buildings Services: Basic first aid, initial assessment Equipment: Cots, basic medical supplies, air-conditioned spaces
Special Burn Night Safety
Man Burn Saturday: Safety contact stations at 3:00 and 9:00 near the Man Identification: Bright BLUE rotating emergency beacons Resources: Rangers, Law Enforcement, Medical Services on standby
Black Rock Rangers
Black Rock Rangers are not law enforcement. Instead, they are volunteers who help mediate conflicts, promote safety, and support community self-reliance at Burning Man. Unlike law enforcement, Rangers do not carry weapons, issue citations, or enforce laws—instead, they rely on non-confrontational communication and participant engagement. They act as cultural translators and problem-solvers rather than authority figures, reinforcing the event’s principles of radical inclusion and communal responsibility. Their ideal outcome is to help people solve their own conflicts with a gentle nudge in the right direction, and then fade into the background when not needed.
Ranger Headquarters
Location: Esplanade & 6:30 (new location for 2025) Identification: Khaki shirts with Burning Man logo Radio Channel: Khaki (Rangers)
Ranger Outposts
"BERLIN": 3:00 Plaza (3:00 & C)
"TOKYO": 9:00 Plaza (9:00 & C)
Gerlach Team: Available in town for off-playa issues
What Rangers Do
Provide information and help new people “get” Burning Man
Respond to situations involving safety concerns, providing incident command and requesting additional resources, as needed
Maintain burn perimeters and perform crowd control
Provide mediation and conflict resolution
Support individuals experiencing (non-medical) psychological distress
Help reunite lost children and parents
Assist with sound complaints
Address violations of community standards
Facilitate positive interactions with law enforcement
Identify and mitigate safety hazards, including unsafe driving
Provide support for sexual assault and domestic violence victims and their campmates
Support Leave No Trace (LNT) compliance
What Rangers DON’T Do
Protect property or art against theft or vandalism
Act as lost and found (that’s Playa Info!)
Find "missing" people in BRC (except for children and special circumstances)
Rangers generally intervene in only two instances:
When someone specifically asks for help
When someone’s behavior is negatively impacting (or likely to impact) someone else’s experience
Special Ranger Services
Green Dot Rangers: this specialized group within the Black Rock Rangers are trained to provide peer-based emotional support and crisis intervention for participants in distress. Unlike regular Rangers who focus on safety, mediation, and logistical issues, Green Dots operate in a slower, quieter mode, offering a calm presence and a safe space for those undergoing intense emotional or psychological experiences
Identification: Round green dot or patch on uniform Services: Emotional support, crisis intervention, internal distress When to Call: Mental health issues, emotional crisis, need for calm support
Family Unification Network (FUN): a voluntary registration system that helps reunite parents and children if they become separated on the playa. Parents can register their children at Black Rock Ranger HQ to receive a wristband with a unique serial number, allowing Rangers to quickly identify and locate the child's guardians and camp.
Location: Register at Ranger HQ (Esplanade & 6:30) Services: Child identification wristbands for quick reunion Process: Parent + child + photo ID → unique wristband with serial number Benefit: Immediate identification by Rangers if child becomes separated
Emergency Services Department (ESD)
ESD Components
Fire Services: Station 5 at 5:00 Airport Road past "K"
Medical Services: Integrated with RAMPART and Plaza stations
Mental Health: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Communications: Point 1 Perimeter Fence - 7:00 past "K"
Dispatch: BRC 911 emergency coordination
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is part of Burning Man’s Emergency Services Department, comprising psychiatric and mental health professionals who respond in pairs to psychiatric emergencies, critical incident stress, and advocacy needs for survivors of domestic or sexual violence. While licensed clinicians may volunteer, CIT members do not need Nevada licensure and focus on triage, support, and patient advocacy—not physical enforcement or restraint.
Who: Psychiatric and mental health professionals
Where: Staffs the Survivor Advocacy Center at Station 6 (5:15/Esplanade) during event week Services:
Psychiatric crisis response
Sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy (Survivor Advocacy Team - SAT)
Critical incident stress management
Access: Call BRC 911 or ask any Ranger to contact CIT
Haven
The Haven is a calm, confidential refuge, staffed by Green Dot Rangers and the Zendo Project to support individuals needing a quiet respite from the high-stimulus playa environment. It operates as a safe haven, offering a peaceful, shaded space for rest, hydration, and emotional processing.
What: Safe, calm space away from high-stimulus environment Staffing: Green Dot Rangers and Zendo Project Access: 6:30 between Esplanade and A, from Monday night through Monday after the Temple Burn Important: Not a drunk tank - for genuine emotional/mental health needs
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Substation
Location: Esplanade & 5:30 (co-located with medical, next to Rampart) Hours: 24/7 coverage Agencies: Combination of BLM, County, and other agencies
Main Law Enforcement Camp
Location: Point 1, Perimeter Fence - 7:00 past "K"
Law Enforcement Feedback
Providing feedback on law enforcement interactions is encouraged to help maintain accountability and improve coordination between Burning Man and law enforcement agencies. Participants can submit feedback forms—positive or negative—at any Ranger station, ensuring that concerns are documented and addressed appropriately.
Purpose: Document interactions (positive and negative) Where: Playa Info Digital Services Kiosks and Any Ranger station after LE interactions Benefit: Creates independent record for individual and organization
Emergency Procedures
Medical Emergencies
On-site care: Go directly to RAMPART or nearest Plaza medical station
Off-playa transport: RAMPART providers decide if higher care needed
Transport options: Ambulance, Medevac plane, or helicopter
What to bring: ID, Burning Man ticket, insurance card, cell phone, wallet
HIPAA form: Sign consent to release info so friends/family can be notified
Return transport: You must arrange pickup. There are no shuttles back to playa
Missing Persons (Adults)
Check Rangers HQ for coordination with medical/law enforcement
Check Message Boards for camp or person messages
Post Directory message with your contact info
Search hospitals/jails if needed (see Section F1 for locations)
Missing Children Protocol
Contact ANY Ranger immediately - child missing = Gate traffic stops
Provide details: Child's name, camp location, description, guardian info
Two adults must stay at Playa Info with found children until Rangers arrive
After hours: Two adults escort child to Ranger HQ
Emergency Messages
Receiving: Check with Playa Info Day Manager (9am-6pm only) Sending: Find someone with internet or cell service Address for incoming: 911@burningman.org Content needed: Full name, camp location, specific message
Pro Tips for Volunteers
Quick Assessment Questions
Medical: "Are you breathing okay? Any chest pain? Can you walk?"
Mental health: "Do you feel safe? Are you thinking of hurting yourself or others?"
Missing person: "When did you last see them? Where? What were they wearing?"
Common Misconceptions to Address
"Rangers are police" → Rangers are mediators; law enforcement is separate
"I can't afford medical care" → RAMPART doesn't charge for services
"I'll get in trouble for drug use" → Medical care is priority, but be honest with providers
"My friend just needs to sleep it off" → If unconscious or unresponsive, get medical help immediately
When to Escalate Immediately
Any mention of suicide or self-harm
Unconscious or unresponsive person
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injuries
Missing child under 18
Domestic violence or sexual assault
Threats of violence
Radio Protocol Reminders
Be brief and clear
Use "BRC 911" for true emergencies
Say "Playa Info" so they know your location
Give specific location of emergency (not just "near our desk")