Gary Keever, horticulture professor, said he does not think the burned Toomer's Oak is dead — but the tree's future is not yet certain.
"Based on the initial appearance of the tree, I don’t think the fire has killed the tree," Keever said in an email to The Auburn Plainsman. "However, aesthetic death, when the tree declines to such an extent that it detracts from the landscape and there is little chance of it returning to its full grandeur, may warrant consideration of removal as a result of this act."
It will be days, weeks or even months before the full extent of the damage is known, Keever said.
"The full extent of the damage won’t be known for several days to several weeks, and perhaps not until we see regrowth in spring," Keever said.
The upper canopy, the lower canopy on the northwest side and the base of the trunk were burned.
"Based on the leaf curl and off-color of the foliage in parts of the canopy, these leaves will drop over the next several days," Keever said.
The tree will be inspected closer with a lift early this week.
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