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Subscribe to RSSNBCDFW.com compiled cell-phone video clips of the fire; view more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.
Stunned attendees at the State Fair of Texas witnessed the iconic Big Tex go up in flames Friday morning.
Some fabric that made up the towering structure's hand and sleeves could still be seen as firefighters gathered around the scorched area.
Big Tex's 75-gallon hat, 50-pound belt buckle and slow drawl -- "Howdy, folks!" -- have been greeting fair visitors since 1952. This year's fair, which closes Sunday, had been celebrating Big Tex's 60th birthday.
"It's a great loss for us because of its icon stature," fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding said.
Gooding said she didn't know the cause of the fire but did note electrical controls move Big Tex's mouth and head.
Gooding noted that no one was injured in the fire and added that she expects him to be back for next year's state fair.
"He'll be back, bigger and better than ever," she said.
"Dallas is about Big Things and #BigTex was symbolic of that. We will rebuild Big Tex bigger and better for the 21st Century," Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said on Twitter.
LM Otero / AP
Fire begins to engulf "Big Tex" on Friday in Dallas.
Lm Otero / AP
The burned remains of Big Tex stand at the State Fair of Texas on Friday in Dallas.
Bill Bragg, the voice of Big Tex, said all the fair's safety measures were in place and no one was in any danger. Bragg says the fair will rebuild the iconic statue for next year's fair.
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Dickies, the clothing company that creates Big Tex's wardrobe, sent this statement:
“Dickies® has proudly been the official clothier of Big Tex for 15 years. Although we’re saddened by today’s news, we’re confident that together with the State Fair of Texas, Big Tex will return better than ever in new Dickies apparel,” said Matthew McCartin, VP of Marketing, Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co.
LM Otero / AP
A worker hangs onto a surviving hand from "Big Tex" on Friday.
Fair organizers are currently dismantling the framework that was not damaged with a crane.
Ironically, Big Tex had only one more weekend to greet visitors at the fair -- it closes for this year on Oct. 21.
The 52-foot-tall statue that welcomes State Fair of Texas visitors caught fire Friday, and an investigation to determine the cause of the flames is underway. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
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Leave a Comment:
...and here all this time I thought that The Buring Man festival was in the Arizona desert...
You thought wrong, it is in Nevada.
Too bad Ozzy Osborne wasn't close by, he could have p!ssed on him and put out Big Tex.....after all Ozzy p!ssed on the Alamo.....
Pup, what is with your generation no respect for anyone or anything. Yet you are the first to snap back saying don't disrespect me or you better show some respect here. Somethings in this country mean things to people especally to people that live in the area and not to mention that visit the area. I got to admit that we have things in our history that are unique to us. That remark about the Alamo. The Alamo means more than just a tourist visiting point to people. The Old Church Tower in Boston really means something to people. There is a simple rock evgraved with the numbers 1620 in Plymouth Mass. that means a lot to people. The trouble is you take your freedoms for granted and have no respect for those who gave it to you. Granted we don't have Castles from the 1100-1200 hundreds as land marks. The new towers being built will become landmarks of time and for Amaricans to show their determination that we will not give in. The cost for this Land Mark is high and not measured in dollars. At the end of what is known to Native Americans as The Trail of Tears there is a simple rock, it is called A Rose Stone and it is found nowhere else on this Planet but there. Even this country gives us land marks. You need to appreciate and respect this country of you were born in because more than likely it is all you will ever have.
darkdragon,
intolerance for stupid comments?
You are kidding right? Loredo is 90% hispanic, San Antonio is 52% hispanic, Dallas is 34% hispanic and blacks make up over 10% of the population in most Texas cities, so you must not recognize the "brown wave" coming from the south. As my Mexican wife says,"One white man at a time". Why infuse a racial comment into a story about a fire? Take the chip off your shoulder.
There are still many many more things in Texas that just need to burn to the ground...
Just really, REALLY GLAD that a hateful being like YOU lives somewhere other than the Great State of Texas !!!
I'll bet that was spectacular. No one hurt? it's OK to laugh...bwaahahahah
Big Tex actually came out of the closet and started flaming.
Anybody blame Bush yet?
No mas pantaloonas
Wow the racist, bigoted comments about Texas and Texans are overwhelming. What to expect from a liberal news outlet and its sheep.
they're going to rebuild him. because what the 21st century needs is a 19th-century idol.
The Lord has spoken. Big mouth Texan set aflame. What did they say in that movie, "texans the lowest form of white man god created." Well now we know god agrees.
attaturk -
Actually, YOU must be the VERY lowest form of "man" around, whatever your color ... and I use that term "man" VERY loosely !
attaturd,,,,,,People like you always like to stir up garbage and hide behind your computer knowing that your safe to do so in your home,Come down here to Texas and say that to any man that has lived here his entire life and knows what this state is all about, You could end up in a very bad situation and with a name like attaturd im sure it wouldnt be pretty!
Yea,,there going to rebuild it,bigger and better than before,,,,,thats all this was about,,out with the old, and in with the new,Well see how original big ol tex really is when they get through with him,,Sounds to me that they already planned for this,,Instead of howdy folks,,Wassup!
Dickies clothes now must contain disclaimer. ''Do not use near open flame or 60' robot guys.''
Must have been that Tex-Mex Chile with jab a neros and Ja Lap e Nose.
It happened while visiting with his cowboy buddy from the Vegas strip that waved his lit Marlboro too close to Tex's blowhole.
Walker, Texas Ranger will get to the bottom of this.
This country is going to hell in a hand basket. No coincidence this happened in an election year.
Hurry Gov Perry...do one of those gay aggie yell leader cheers
Instead of a burning bush for Texas it is a burning cowboy. Time to get some honesty , respect and values back in Texas. Your behavior in this election year has been abominable and to seal the deal for no class or redemptive value in Texas you now serve as host to the King of Ignorant Glenn Beck.
Some of those pictures look like Satan showed up for the fair.
It was an assassnation. He should have never been fooling around with Betty Crocker, Aunt Jemima, and especially Little Debbie.
Big Tex...
Sounds gay.
Being 60, Big Tex heard he was going to be forced into Obamacare. Naturally, he did the honorable thing.
Aren't you honorable?
Now that is hilarious Sir Q.
I don't care what side of the fence people are on. That's a good one.
Thats what the voucher is worth
Seriously when I saw the picture on the MSN homepage I thought it was a statue of Michael Jackson, no joking. "People stunned as Icon burns". Obviously when you read the article there are more pictures,but damn that first one looks like "The King of Pop".
Texas BBQ anyone...dang all the ribs is gone...they saved his hand; we can regenerate him, YAY!
We can make him better...better than he was before! We have the technology!
We do have the technology.
We can make him better, gentler, and more PC Correct! We can have him sit, and not stand erect. We can make him sit to pee, and take a class on sensitivity. And if that's not enough, we'll take away his violent TV.
We'll take away his Dog and give him a Cat, because being a pussy is where it's at. He can play ball but not spit in a cup. Then we'll give him a trophy just for showing up.
The statue wanted to leave a burning impression.
"Burn Baby Burn"
We can rebuild him.......better than new.
And now, here's BIONIC Big Tex. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, no wait, I have my superhero icons mixed up.