Phoenixville Firebird Burned By Vandals Hours Before Festival Begins
By Pat Loeb
PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (CBS) -- Phoenixville's annual Firebird Festival suffered a huge setback after someone set fire to the festival's centerpiece just hours before the event was to begin.
The 30-foot high wooden Phoenix that is set aflame to symbolize the former steel town's renaissance through arts and culture was burned down about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, police said.
Authorities said they had no suspects, but were investigating the incident.
The 10-year-old festival was expected to draw about 16,000 people. It includes musical performances, food and crafts.
Organizers said the festival would go on as planned, but without the bird. The festival was still expected to end with a giant bonfire, however, after a request for spare wood was answered by an overwhelming number of area residents.
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