Texas A&M Bonfire Delayed Due to Burn Ban as Community Reflects on 1999 Tragedy

The annual off-campus event, now a memorial to the 1999 collapse that killed 12, awaits clearance from drought restrictions in Robertson County.

The annual Aggie Bonfire, scheduled ahead of the Texas-Texas A&M football game, has been delayed due to a Robertson County burn ban in place until December 20.
The bonfire, built by around 600 students using 2,500 logs, will remain unlit until drought conditions improve, though the site will still be open to visitors on Friday.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1999 collapse of the on-campus bonfire, which killed 12 people and injured 27, leading to the university's decision to end its official involvement in the tradition.
The current off-campus bonfire, organized by students since 2002, is considered a 'living memorial' to the victims, incorporating improved safety measures while remaining student-led.
Debate continues over whether the tradition should return to campus under professional oversight, but student organizers and university leadership have opted to keep it off-campus.