Imagine a place where the ground beneath your feet has been burning for over 60 years, and will continue to do so for another 250 years. Welcome to Centralia, a ghost town in Pennsylvania’s coal region. A town whose underground fire has made history.
A FIERY BEGINNING
Centralia once a crowed town, dotted with coal mines that powered the local economy. Like many communities, the town had a routine of burning trash in a landfill before Memorial Day each year. But in 1962, something went horribly wrong. A daily routine fire spread from the landfill into a nearby mine, and from there, it found its way into the vast network of underground coal mines.
Efforts to extinguish the fire proved unsuccessful. Moreover, it spread deeper underground, reaching depths of 300 feet and sprawling across 3,700 acres. The fire burned with such intensity that flames would occasionally burst from the ground. Additionally, releasing toxic gases and causing the earth to collapse beneath homes. What started as a small, manageable fire turned into a disaster, one that would forever alter the fate of Centralia.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
By 1984, the situation had grown so dreadful that the U.S. Congress allocated over $42 million to relocate residents. Most people left, abandoning their homes to the relentless fire below. In 2002, the town’s zip code was officially removed, and Highway 61, which once ran through Centralia, was closed off and buried under tons of dirt to discourage curious visitors.
A HUNTING LEGACY : CENTRALIA
Today, Centralia stands as a haunting reminder of the destructive power of nature and human error. The fire continues to burn, hidden beneath the surface, a ghostly presence that will continue for centuries to come. While the town may be gone, its fiery legacy lives on, captivating the imaginations of those who dare to explore the story of a town that simply refused to stop burning.
So, the next time you think your town is hot in the summer, just remember Centralia, a place where the heat never fades.
