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Burning Man Torched Early

Vandal charged with arson after icon of hedonistic arts festival bursts into flames

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 29, 2007 6:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – A San Francisco vandal torched a giant effigy four days before it was slated to burn as part of the annual hedonistic Burning Man arts festival, according to police. The vandal was arrested for arson and possession of fireworks. Most of the 40-foot Man is still standing, and organizers are promising to rebuild it and go ahead with Saturday night's scheduled burn.

Reactions at the festival in the Nevada desert were mixed: "You never saw so many hippies so conflicted," snarked one blogger. The fire started at 3 a.m. yesterday, when many festival goers were gathered to watch the lunar eclipse. As firefighters doused the flames "some people were chanting, 'Let him burn!' and some were chanting, 'Save the man!'" recounted one witness.

A Burning Man participant warms up by a fire while the Man glows in the background on the Black Rock Deset in Gerlach, Nev., on Monday morning, Aug. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Brad Horn)
A Burning Man participant warms up by a fire while the Man glows in the background on the Black Rock Deset in Gerlach, Nev., on Monday morning, Aug. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Brad Horn)   (Associated Press)
The sun rises over the Man in Gerlach, Nev., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007, on opening day of the Burning Man festival. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Brad Horn)
The sun rises over the Man in Gerlach, Nev., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007, on opening day of the Burning Man festival. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Brad Horn)   (Associated Press)
The sun rises near the Man in Gerlach, Nev., on opening day of the Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Brad Horn)
The sun rises near the Man in Gerlach, Nev., on opening day of the Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Brad Horn)   (Associated Press)
In this booking photo provided by Pershing County Sheriff's Office, Paul Addis, 35, of San Francisco is seen in this booking photo taken  Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007 in Lovelock, Nev. Addis was arrested after allegedly burning the namesake effigy of the Burning Man counterculture festival four days early. (AP Photo/Pershing...
In this booking photo provided by Pershing County Sheriff's Office, Paul Addis, 35, of San Francisco is seen in this booking photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007 in Lovelock, Nev. Addis was arrested after...   (Associated Press)
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