This Town In The US Has Been Burning For 60 Years!
Centralia, was once a typical mining town, in Pennsylvania. But today, it stands as one of the most eerie and unusual places in the United States. What makes Centralia so strange is that it has a fire burning underneath for over 60 years!
The town’s population has gone down from 1,000 people in 1980 to just five residents in 2020. It is because of an underground coal mine fire that started in 1962 and continues to burn today. The fire has caused streets to crack, poisonous gases to rise, and most of the buildings to be demolished. What remains are empty roads and smoking ground—an almost ghostly land. Let’s have a closer look.
The Origins of Centralia’s Fire
Centralia was incorporated as a borough in 1866 and is the least-populated municipality in Pennsylvania. According to federal census records, Centralia only had a peak population of 2,761 in 1890. The town back then had 7 churches, five hotels, 27 saloons, two theaters, a bank, a post office, and 14 general and grocery stores. But things started changing with The Wall Street Crash of 1929. It resulted in the Lehigh Valley Coal Company to close around five of Centralia-local mines.
The fire began in May 1962 when Centralia’s town council decided to clean up a landfill located in an old strip mine. To do this, they ignited a fire to burn away the waste. However, they didn’t realize that the fire had reached an unsealed coal seam deep underground. The coal continued to burn, unnoticed, spreading through the labyrinth of abandoned mines beneath the town.
The exact cause of the fire is still debated. Some believe it started with the landfill fire, while others think that coal-burning activities may have been going on even earlier.
How the Fire Spread
Once the coal seam caught fire, it spread rapidly. The fire burned at depths of up to 300 feet and spread across an area of 8 miles. Efforts to extinguish the fire failed and Centralia became uninhabitable. The underground fire produced poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and caused the ground to collapse. This resulted in dangerous sinkholes. These conditions forced the mass relocation of residents in the 1980s.
Various attempts were made to put out the fire. Unfortunately, none of them succeeded. Crews tried excavating the burning coal and flushing the mines with a mixture of crushed rock and water. However, these efforts only made things worse. In some cases, the fire spread faster as more oxygen was allowed in. The financial toll of these projects was also high. However, despite spending millions, the fire remained unstoppable.
Centralia Today: A Modern Ghost Town
In 1992, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania claimed all property in Centralia under eminent domain. Most of the town’s residents were then forced to leave. The town’s post office was closed in 2002, and Centralia’s ZIP code was revoked.
Poisonous gases like carbon monoxide continuously leaking from the ground make the air toxic. The fire started heating the earth above it. The temperatures exceeded 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in some places.
In one frightening incident in 1981, a 12-year-old boy, Todd Domboski nearly fell into a sinkhole that suddenly opened beneath his feet. The sinkhole was 4 feet (1.2 m) wide by 150 feet (46 m) deep. But thankfully he was saved by a cousin who pulled him to safety.
Today, Centralia is mostly empty, with only five residents remaining. These residents were allowed to stay until their deaths. After their death, their homes will be claimed by the state.
Myths, Legends, and Popular Culture
Like many strange places, Centralia has attracted its share of myths and legends. Some say the town was cursed due to violence in its early history.
Centralia was a hotbed of Molly Maguire activity, a secret society involved in labor disputes in the 1800s, and locals tell stories of their descendants still living in the area in the 1980s.
The town’s mysterious and unsettling history has inspired pop culture, most notably the 2006 film Silent Hill. The movie was based on Centralia’s eerie landscape. The town has also been featured in documentaries and podcasts, adding to its legend.
The Future of Centralia
What does the future hold for Centralia? Unfortunately, the fire beneath the town is expected to burn for another 250 years. The environmental challenges of managing this ongoing disaster are immense, and most of the town is now a tourist attraction for those curious to see this smoldering ghost town.
In 2020, the famous Graffiti Highway—a stretch of road covered in colorful graffiti left by visitors—was closed off by its private owner, further restricting access to Centralia’s strangest sights.
Conclusion
Centralia’s tragic transformation from a mining town to a nearly abandoned wasteland reminds us of the consequences of some industrial activities. This fire, started by human decisions, has burned for over six decades and will likely continue for centuries. Centralia is a clear example of the unpredictable power of nature and the far-reaching effects of environmental damage.
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