I bonked a couple of times when I started getting serious about my rides that including upping the distance and duration of my rides. The reason for bonking was I wasn't adequately fueling and hydrating plus aggravated by too big of a jump in ride length. During my shorter rides, I was able to avoid crossing into the bonk zone despite even for those rides I wasn't properly hydrated or fueled.

The answer to the OP is to ride properly and stayed fueled and hydrated and you shouldn't bonk. Are you likely to become fatigued at times? Yes. But bonking is a lot more miserable of an experience than becoming fatigued. And no, bonking will not cause you any damage.