Fentanyl Exposure Forces Evacuation, Shutdown of Apogaea Festival

Organizers of Apogaea announced that they evacuated more than 1,500 participants and closed the regional Burning Man sanctioned event on December 22 after two separate incidents involving substances that tested positive for fentanyl. The festival site near Valdez is about 12 miles west of Trinidad and has hosted the event since 2016. Organizers said no one was injured or taken to the hospital.

According to event staff, the first incident occurred on Thursday when two participants reported being given a substance that later tested positive for fentanyl. On Friday another participant discovered an undissolved gelcap in a clear water bottle, and two strip tests of the gelcap returned positive results for fentanyl. Organizers said staff believe the second incident involved nonconsensual drugging and moved to evacuate and close the venue out of caution.

Lawrence Phipps, an Apogaea organizer, expressed concern about the apparent targeting of volunteers and staff. "The most aggravating factor of this was, you know, there was an intentional act that, you know, we felt was targeting... we were concerned at first that it was targeting our volunteers," Phipps said. Mindy Chambers, president of Apogaea, described the decision to end the festival as difficult and emotional. "This was an incredibly difficult and emotional moment for everyone," Chambers said. "We really appreciate the help and the resilience of our community."

Local emergency management personnel were in communication with event organizers as the incidents unfolded. Joe Richards, Las Animas County emergency manager, said he supported the organizers decision to cancel the event and warned of the specific danger posed by fentanyl. "We're not talking about a mild drug, like, you know, marijuana or something, which we could have handled," Richards said. "I think this is a good lesson learned. You know, watch out. Watch your children. Watch what you're doing. Don't put anything down that you can't keep an eye on, because you never know what someone might, may or may not do, and you have to protect yourself." Richards said he plans to conduct an after action report to determine any necessary security measures for future festivals.

The incident underscores broader policy and institutional questions for Las Animas County about event permitting, on site medical and toxicology readiness, volunteer safety protocols, and coordination between private organizers and county emergency services. For a community that relies on regional gatherings for cultural and economic activity, the closure will prompt organizers, officials and residents to weigh new safety requirements against the logistical and civil considerations of staging large events on rural land.