Blaze began in Tex's right boot, State Fair official says

Big Tex, the long standing icon of the State Fair of Texas, burned Friday morning (10/19/12), following what may have been an electrical fire inside the figure.
DALLAS - Flames swiftly engulfed Big Tex Friday morning, leaving only a skeletal frame with his hands, arms and belt buckle still intact.

The State Fair of Texas was celebrating Big Tex's 60th birthday. Emergency scanner chatter lit up around 10:30 a.m. with reports of a "rather tall cowboy with all his clothes burned off." Another voice chimed in soon after, confirming, "We got Big Tex on fire."

"Howdy folks," another emergency responder said. "It's hot."

Mitchell Glieber, vice president of marketing for the State Fair, said it appears the fire was started by an electrical short circuit.

"There's obviously some electronics inside of Big Tex that leads to the ability for his mouth to move when he speaks," Glieber said. "I believe there was an electrical short, but that hasn't been confirmed or investigated."
Nearly six hours after smoke began pouring out of Tex, State Fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding confirmed the the theory –– and that it began in his boots.

"At this point, investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical short that started in his right boot," she wrote in a statement.

Dallas Fire Rescue quickly responded and put the fire out within a matter of minutes. However, those at the scene said it only took around five minutes for the blaze to quickly swallow the 52-foot figure.
Witnesses said smoke began pouring out of his head and quickly spread to the rest of his body, likely exacerbated by his Dickies clothing.

"At first I couldn’t believe it, I mean, we were wondering why he was smoking because we all know Big Tex does not smoke," said Jenneth Hickman, who runs a stand near Big Tex Circle. "So we were wondering why he was smoking for."

There were no injuries reported. Glieber said the unprecedented fire happened at the best possible time; few people were gathered near the State Fair icon when the fire broke out.

"At this time in the morning, there was not a big crowd around here," he said. "It started and within a five minute period it consumed its body, but that was more than enough time to get everybody out of harm's way."

Crews brought Big Tex down, covered him and then carted him away from his official spot at Big Tex Circle. They wheeled him out in a giant body bag –– the only thing missing was an oversized coroner's toe-tag. Later, mourners placed flowers and wreaths where he stood before the blaze.

Big Tex has served as the mascot of the fair for dozens of years and was originally created as a 49-foot tall Santa Claus in Kerens, Texas.

He was eventually brought to the Dallas area and sold to the State Fair of Texas for $750. The structure was then transformed to the looming giant that has greeted fairgoers since 1952. In 1953, he talked for the first time, welcoming visitors with a hearty "Howdy."
In 2000, visitors in the 'Million Dollar Midway' saw Big Tex move for the first time with his big wave.

"He is definitely our icon," Glieber said of Big Tex. "He is our Mickey Mouse. It's sad to see, but obviously we will be able to rebuild Big Tex and he'll be back here for sure for the 2013 State Fair of Texas."

Officials are trying to determine if this was a terrorist attack or a protest to an anti-cowboy film that was made by another group. Sources say that Big Tex had asked for more security but his request fell on deaf ears.
The White House has yet to comment.

it was a sad sight It will be hard to fill those size 70 boots

R I P Big Tex



Personally I think the Okies did it

Hahaha ya sure Aliens did not do it???

You bad!


The puppies being put to sleep was hilarious.

May he be reanimated soon!

There is speculation on that. Videos are being scanned.

"Personally I think the Okies did it."
me too

when I read the Title,I thought another Country Singer had gone to Hillbilly-Heaven!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjY7JQrWtaA

I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven---Tex Ritter

John Ritter's father.

Txgal, where were you at that time of morning? You live close to Fair Park don't you.

I just realized that my son and I were near downtown Dallas around that time.

Big Tex was the only creature on Earth (with the noted exception of Chuck Norris) who could kick Godzilla and King Kong's azz at the same time with one hand tied behind his back!!

Oh, the humanity!

I hope they rebuild him with a nice tush this time. He was butt-less before

That's because his was impossible to kick!

yep,the same!

you noticed?

Ain't she just a fine prevert?

would you believe I took a wild guess???