With a homecoming football game on Saturday’s schedule, the University is asking fans to refrain from rolling the Auburn Oak at Toomer’s Corner that was intentionally set on fire last weekend. The restriction will be in place until further assessment of the tree’s health can be made, according to a release from the University.
Fans celebrating are asked to keep any rolling to the Auburn Oak along College Street, the release states. The oak on Magnolia Avenue was significantly burned by the fire, and experts won’t know for some time the extent of the damage.
“There is little or no healthy foliage on the burnt tree. Most of the remaining leaves will drop off over the next week or so,” said Gary Keever, professor of horticulture. “We will have to wait until next spring to see what long-term effects the fire had.”
Keever examine the tree more closely this week.
“I don’t think the fire killed the tree, but we may never see it return to its appearance before this act,” he said.
Auburn hosts the University of Louisiana-Monroe Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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