A demobilization team held four days of debriefing sessions following the conclusion
of the incident. Some of the agencies involved, particularly the fire and rescue agencies,
made attendance at a debriefing session mandatory. Other agencies did not. Debriefing
was also made available to hospital personnel and the University’s EMS providers.
The University has a Critical Incidence Response Team that coordinates efforts
during any crisis related to the campus. The team is composed of four core members: the
director and three associate directors from Department of Student Life. The team also
has a representative from every department on campus. Numerous counseling sessions
were made available to students and their families to help them cope with the grief
associated with this event.
The effects of the bonfire collapse on the student body and the entire community
have been profound. An orange plastic perimeter fence was erected after the incident to
preserve the scene while the investigation was conducted. The fence was covered with
flowers, letters, plaques, and other items in memory of the dead and injured. Countless
notes of sympathy and encouragement were received from people throughout the country,
including strong support from other universities within the State of Texas. In a very touching
demonstration of devotion, more than a dozen coveted senior rings were left near the
Administration Building on campus as offerings to the twelve who died in the incident.
Hundreds of people gathered at the site throughout the event to offer their prayers
and support to the victims and their families. On Sunday November 21, 1999 a memorial
service was held in the evening at Central Baptist Church in Bryan. The event was
attended by over 1,800 including the Governor of Texas. The funerals for the twelve
students were also emotional events and were attended by a large number of students,
family and friends. In keeping with another tradition on the A&M campus, a Silver Taps
ceremony was held to honor those who were killed in the collapse.
Silver Taps is held on the first Tuesday of each month, when necessary, to honor
the death of a current student. The December 1999 ceremony took on special significance
in light of the tragic events surrounding the 1999 bonfire collapse. The ceremony
is conducted at the Albritton Bell Tower. During the ceremony, the Ross Volunteer’s
firing squad, a ceremonial drill team attached to the Corps of Cadets, fires a twenty-onegun
salute and taps is played from the dome of the Academic Building. Taps is repeated
three times in each direction of the compass. It is not played, however, to the east because
the sun will never rise again on deceased. The ceremony dates to 1898 and the
death of College President Lawrence Sullivan Ross.
In the aftermath of the bonfire collapse, more than $250,000 was donated to a
number of funds that were established to memorialize the victims. The Bonfire Relief
Fund was established to assist the families with expenses incurred as a result of the
incident. The Bonfire Memorial Endowed Fund, administered by the Association of
Form Students and The Texas A&M Foundation, was established to fund a permanent
recognition of those who died in the accident.
A plethora of litigation often accompanies tragedies such as the bonfire collapse at
Texas A&M University. While it too soon to know for sure, the pride and tradition
surrounding A&M may very well dictate that events will be different this time. The
parents of several of the students killed or injured when the bonfire collapsed stated
publicly that they do not blame the University for the deaths of their children. Published
reports also indicated that a number of the parents, as well as students who were injured
in the collapse, believe that the bonfire tradition should continue and that they have no
plans to sue the University.
Governmental liability is limited by the Texas Torts Claims Act, which places a
limit of $250,000 for an individual and $500,000 per occurrence for claims against a
government agency. The cap can be waived by the Legislature, however. No known
litigation had been filed at the time that this report was compiled.
In spite of the size of the rescue effort surrounding the bonfire collapse, the
College Station and Bryan Fire Departments still had to continue to provide fire and
emergency medical service to their respective cities. One Engine Company and all four
of Bryan’s engine companies remained in service throughout the incident. During the
height of the event, off-duty personnel were used to staff reserve apparatus and ambulances.
After the first hour, the vast majority of the injured had been transported. Therefore,
most of the ambulances were no longer needed at the scene and operations went
back to an almost normal status.
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