State Rep Hosts Event Resulting in Multiple ODs and One Death

A Boston man died of a drug overdose July 7 at a regional version of the Burning Man Festival hosted by a Vermont legislator.

Every year State Representative Kirk White (D/P-Windsor-Addison) hosts the Firefly Arts Collective on his property in Bethel, VT. The festival is described as a New England version of Burning Man. Its website says, “This event operates under the 10 Principles of Burning Man: not to dictate of how people should be and act, but as a reflection of the community’s ethos and culture as it has organically developed.”

These events, according to a neighbor who supplied video form the night in question, are loud, disruptive, rife with recreational drug use and public sexual activity. This year’s festivities saw three overdoses requiring an emergency response, with one death resulting.

Asked to confirm or deny rumors that a death that occurred, Bethel Fire Chief David Aldringhetti confirmed that there was an overdose death on July 7 at the festival, and that two other overdose victims, including the wife of the deceased, were treated and survived. The Chief also said this isn't the first overdose at the Firefly festival in its 15-year history.

The Vermont State Police responded to a similar request for information about the incidents with a general press release:

The Vermont State Police is investigating a death that occurred during the Firefly Festival in Bethel on Friday, July 7, 2023. State police learned at about 11:26 p.m. July 7 that the Bethel Fire Department and White River Valley Ambulance had responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive 35-year-old man from Boston, Massachusetts. He was pronounced deceased on scene about 10 minutes later.

The body was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy. A determination on the cause and manner of death is pending toxicology testing, which can take several weeks or months to complete. Preliminary investigation indicates the death is not suspicious. The name of the decedent is being withheld at this stage of the investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Royalton at 802-234-9933. No further details are available at this time.

Representative White is serving in his second term as a state legislator. He is described on the Firefly history page as “neopagan writer and Vermont state assembly member….” White is also the author of Adept Circle Magic, described on Amazon as, “Written for every Wiccan who is ready to expand his or her knowledge of the Craft, this comprehensive volume addresses the practical matters of spells, meditations, and rituals, as well as ethical and spiritiual [sic] concerns important to witches of every skill level.”

Firefly released this statement on its website:

“Many of you may have witnessed emergency vehicles and personnel on Friday night. In the interest of community transparency and to address community questions we would like to share the following information.

“On the evening of Friday, July 7th, three participants had medical emergencies at our event. Firefly volunteers and retained on-site medical staff worked quickly to provide care and call for outside help.

“Professional medical staff escorted one distressed participant to the First Aid tent for care and observation. During care they became unresponsive, and medical staff and volunteers performed CPR until the arrival of local emergency responders. Unfortunately, this participant was pronounced dead after receiving care from local emergency responders.

“Two other participants in distress were transported to nearby hospitals for care. They have both been discharged and are expected to make a full recovery.”

White is a sponsor of H.423, a bill that would decriminalize the personal use/supply of regulated recreational drugs.

In a May 2022 interview with VT Digger, White described Firefly as “a bunch of hippies in my woods.” But he did not respond to a request for an interview regarding this story.

• Rob Roper is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience in Vermont politics including three years service as chair of the Vermont Republican Party and nine years as President of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free market think tank.

Behind the Lines partnered with Guy Page/Vermont Daily Chronicle in writing this story.