Ranger Operations
The Black Rock Rangers continued their long-standing tradition of non-confrontational
mediation, of rising out of the dust when
needed and fading away when not. This was also a year for changes
within the organization. Upper management was completely restructured,
to become a consensus committee of five. A new department,
LEAL (Law
Enforcement Agency Liaison), took on a hybrid role of interfacing
with participants and with the
outside Law Enforcement covering our event. The whole Ranger umbrella
(including Operations, Gate and Emergency Services) reported to
the head of the Community Services Department. With all these changes
came a year filled with animated meetings, many hours of work and
ultimately a very successful event.
Success showed in improved communications between Rangers and other
Black Rock City departments, and with citizens. Pre-event cross-departmental
trainings paid off, in meetings of the minds and in a peaceable
city. With a population grown beyond 29,000, we experienced no
major incidents. Participants seemed better prepared and more laid
back. Sanctuary, our chill-out space for weary and disoriented
participants, went beautifully, thanks to a dedicated crew. “Dirt
rangers” on patrol encountered all the usual things we expect
to see: dehydrated, lost, confused, intoxicated, sleepy, happy
people. The dirt rangers practiced the art of Rangering while riding
the edge of chaos, contributing greatly to a successful Burning
Man event.
Rangers, volunteers, and DPW worked together to construct a more
user-friendly Ranger HQ. In front, we had a large shift-change
area with more shade and more lights. Walk-up windows made checkin/checkout
much easier. Behind the main trailer was a formal meeting area,
also with shade and lights. We had our own drinking water supply
for refilling water bottles. Best of all was the burn barrel out
front. You could find off-duty Rangers sitting around the fire
talking story at all hours.
For 2003 we will improve our process and documentation for checking
radios in and out. We had a database for this purpose, but old
equipment and the harsh environment caused technical problems and
crashes. There are still radios and accessories missing, which
is a costly failure.
One of the big problems we tackled in 2002 was that of people driving
at the event. We used every tool we had to educate participants
pre-event about the hazards of driving in a pedestrian- and bicycle-powered
city. We sat in countless meetings designing a system of enforcement
that was true to the Burning Man spirit and our new culture of
safety. DMV worked
hard, hand in hand with Ranger Operations, to refine the rules
for licensing
art cars for playa driving. It all
helped. The playa was freer than ever of non-art cars until Sunday
night; but the plan for enforcement was challenging. Rangers are
trained to be non-confrontational mediators, not ticket-writing
enforcers; and some participants still value their driving lifestyle
more than the well-being of other citizens. In coming years we
will continue our campaign for a city free from movement of unregistered
vehicles. Between creative problem-solving and hard work, we can
provide transportation around the city without putting the people
in it at risk.
To be a Black Rock Ranger you must acquire a delicate and complex
set of skills. Our training programs last year had weaknesses;
we found that some of our dirt rangers were not up to speed on
all the changes that had taken place in 2002. For 2003, a major
priority is to revise our content and delivery to eliminate any
shortcomings in the program.
In contrast, our mentoring program, overhauled this year, was successful
and effective. Mentoring puts new rangers on at least two patrols
with experienced mentor rangers, before they go out on their own.
The transition from newbie to dirt ranger on patrol was much less
stressful, thanks to the Mentoring team.
This was the first year for Echelon — a new team in Ranger
Operations that provides logistics support for the Rangers. Their
performance far exceeded expectations; they became invaluable almost
overnight. They supported not only the Rangers, but also Medical,
Fire, and a host of other groups.
Overall 2002 was a great year for the Black Rock Rangers and the
Burning Man organization.
Respectfully submitted by,
Greg Miller aka SeaDog
Click here to read the 2001
Ranger Operations report.