If you’ve never been to Burning Man, it might be hard to imagine what it’s like. It’s more than just a festival—it’s a temporary city built in the Nevada desert, home to over 70,000 people for a week. You bring everything you need with you. And when it’s over, everything gets packed up, leaving no trace behind. In the middle of that city, Royal Ambulance had a mission: build and run a fully operational emergency care center in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
What Is Burning Man?
Burning Man is a week-long annual event in Black Rock City, a temporary community built in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. It’s an experiment in art, community, and radical self-reliance. There are no vendors, no permanent structures, and the conditions can be harsh—dust storms, extreme heat, and no access to outside resources. It’s an environment that demands resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of community.
Every year, people come together to create a city full of art, creativity, and connection. But like any city, there are emergencies. That’s where we came in.
Rampart: Our Mission
In 2024, Royal Ambulance had the honor of supporting Burning Man by building and operating a medical center, called Rampart, right on the Playa. Over 15 days, we provided emergency care to nearly 1,300 patients. Our setup wasn’t just a makeshift tent—it was a fully licensed and inspected emergency care facility.
Rampart was staffed with an incredible team, including EMTs, paramedics, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians. We had a licensed laboratory, a pharmacy, and ambulance services, providing care to a wide variety of patients, from minor injuries to more severe trauma. At the peak of operations, we treated up to 170 patients in a single day.
The Challenges of the Playa
Operating in Black Rock City comes with its own set of challenges. The environment is extreme, with temperatures fluctuating drastically and dust storms that can make even the simplest task difficult. Our team faced these conditions head-on, working around the clock to make sure the facility was ready for anything.
We also had to coordinate with Burning Man’s Emergency Services Department (ESD), integrating our operations into their system while maintaining the unique culture and spirit of Burning Man. This wasn’t just about providing care—it was about being part of the community and respecting the ethos of the event.
Teamwork and Community
One of the most powerful aspects of Burning Man is the sense of community, and that extended to our team. We built more than just a medical center; we built a space where our team could connect, rest, and share the experience. FERN Camp, our home base, wasn’t just a place to sleep—it was a place to unwind, share meals, and bond after long shifts.
Burning Man’s ethos of radical inclusion and communal effort mirrored the way we approached our work.
We relied on each other, leaned into our creativity, and found solutions to problems we couldn’t have anticipated.
Whether it was figuring out how to keep the facility cool during the hottest parts of the day or coming up with ways to manage the influx of patients, every challenge was met with determination and teamwork.
Lessons Learned
There were moments when we had to think fast and adapt to the unexpected. For instance, during peak hours, managing patient flow became critical. We quickly adjusted our staffing and resources to ensure that no one was left waiting too long for care. And then there were the dust storms, which would sweep through and force us to find new ways to keep the medical facility dust-free and functional.
What really stood out was the resilience of our team. Every member, from the EMTs to the physicians, showed an incredible level of commitment and flexibility. Our ability to adapt and problem-solve in real time was key to our success on the Playa.
A Deep Gratitude
As we look back on our experience at Burning Man, we are filled with gratitude. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve this unique community and for the trust that Burning Man’s Emergency Services Department placed in us. We’re also incredibly thankful for our team, who worked tirelessly in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, all while maintaining the spirit of compassion and care that defines Royal.
This was our first year at Burning Man this experience has left a lasting impact on us, both as individuals and as an organization. It taught us about resilience, and about community.
Looking Ahead
We’re already looking forward to what comes next. Burning Man 2025 will bring new challenges, and we’ll be ready. With each year, we’ll refine our processes, improve our setup, and continue to be a trusted medical provider on the Playa.
Until then, we carry the lessons of Burning Man with us—lessons of teamwork, adaptability, and, above all, community.