We scrambled from the trailer and found our tent neighbors were not to be consoled, and were leaving. We hurried to the Playa and got within five rows of the wide open circle around the Man. We watched and listened to the crowd, glad to be so close but wondering if the few heads in front might still block our view. A bright light from the other side made it hard to see, but from five years ago we knew the ceremony starts with elaborate fire dancing. Fire bearers were present with no sign of any action.
Suddenly the fire bearers disbursed, never utilized, and the neon tubes outlining the Man came alive. Fireworks erupted and soon small fires were visible at various levels of the platform and at the base of the Man's feet. Then more fireworks and an occasional propane blast, with a final burst large enough to engulf the whole platform and cause us to smile in awe as we basked in the heat. Surprisingly, as the flames dissipated, no new fires started and the burn continued slowly, albeit accented by fireworks. But the fires did slowly reach higher, causing the lights in the man to flicker then dim, and eventually all was in flame. The structure started to bow slightly, with the middle leaning right and the top leaning left; people began to take bets on which way it would fall. Left won, and the tower collapsed and formed a huge bonfire with no recognizable parts. Our line broke and a number of burners raced forward, dancing in the flames and taking souvenirs.(Well, I don't know how that sounds, but this was a much less impressive structure and burn than five years ago. Perhaps part of a rumored Burning Man attempt to downplay the actual burning.)
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