BY GRACE ANTHONY / Assistant Campus Editor
Toomer's Oak Fire: ContributedToomer's Oak Fire: Contributed

Toomer’s oak trees caught fire amid the celebration of the Mississippi State victory, and how the fire started is still unsure.

“We don’t have a recorded cause, which means it could have been malicious or accidental,” said Matt Jordan, battalion chief of the Auburn fire division.

Calls were made to the fire department around 11 p.m., according to the Auburn Department of Public Safety.

“Essentially, if we have any evidence, we’ll investigate for an origin to the fire,” said Fire Chief Lee Lamare. “We’ll assist with our area of expertise.”

Department of Public Safety reported a piece of toilet paper was lit and tossed into the trees, catching parts of the already-endangered trees on fire.

It caused minor damage to the trees’ canopy and the newly installed irrigation pipes designed for the ailing trees.

One response to Auburn’s article on This Week @ AU said witnesses saw someone drop a cigarette and stomp out the fire. The fire restarted minutes later.

This witness was one of the calls to the fire department.

“It is entirely possible for cigarette ashes to start a fire,” Jordan said. “People are excited after a football game. They might want to light a cigarette, but I would say that is not the best place for that celebration. I would definitely say that it’s not the best place.”

Lamare said contacting the fire department in any situation like this is necessary.

“We definitely take this seriously, whether it was on accident or on purpose,”  Jordan said. “Every time there’s a fire in the public, we take it seriously.”

Jordan and Lamare both remember past incidents when the trees have caught on fire.

“It happens, but if we’re not contacted, we cannot help,” Lamare said.

This is the first time they have been lit since the new irrigation pipes have been added.

“One of the biggest ways to prevent this from happening is if everyone would be a quote-on-quote good citizen,”  Jordan said.

Although the tradition will continue, the fire and public safety departments warn fans to be careful.

Calls to the Department of Public Safety were not returned.