I Was Thinking About…The Tragic Centralia Mine Fire That Began in 1962 and Still Burns Today
By Andy Lee
Deep under the rolling hills and forests of central Pennsylvania burns a fire that will not die. This hidden inferno has smoldered for over half a century, forcing the evacuation of the mining town of Centralia, and consuming what was once a thriving community. I was compelled to explore this topic after watching the excellent documentary “CENTRALIA, PA – America’s Burning Ghost Town” by Part-Time Explorer on YouTube. The tragic fate of this small town provides a cautionary tale worth reflecting on.
Before the devastating mine fire began, Centralia was a typical working-class town supported for over a century by extensive anthracite coal mines that provided jobs and energy to the region. But on May 27, 1962, everything changed when a trash fire set in an unregulated dump spread to exposed coal seams in an abandoned strip-mining pit on the edge of town.
The fire crept down into the labyrinth of old mining tunnels, fueled by the coal-rich earth. At first, locals didn’t think much of the mine fire as many were used to them starting occasionally. Previous fires had been extinguished or burned themselves out. But the Centralia fire kept burning, spreading through the vast network of abandoned mines beneath and near the town.
“We thought we’d be able to put it out and go home,” said local resident Tony Gaughan. “But we didn’t realize how extensive the areas were underground.”
Repeated attempts to control the inferno failed as it blazed underground across the network of abandoned mines beneath and near the town.
Toxic gases like carbon monoxide began seeping up through fissures in yards and lanes, poisoning the environment. Sinkholes opened up as the fire undermined the surface. Underground coal seams burned and collapsed, consuming the hollowed-out mines. Smoke and fumes made Centralia unlivable for its residents, who bitterly fought relocation efforts by the state.
According to EPA reports, by 1981 carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions from the fire had reached alarming levels. Pollution and subsidence also contaminated water supplies and threatened vegetation in the area.
Dangerous subsidence and emissions continued increasing as the fire burrowed over a mile into the earth. In 1984, congress allocated over $40 million dollars to relocate Centralia’s residents. Homes were bulldozed or condemned as the population declined over 90% from over 1,000 to fewer than 10 today. Yet still the fire burns on, transforming this once-idyllic mining community into a smoke-shrouded ghost town. Smoldering for over 60 years, the Centralia fire could rage for up to 250 years more, according to some estimates.
Visiting the town today reveals cracked roadways with billowing smoke and empty residential blocks overtaken by nature. Warning signs for toxic gas dot the abandoned landscape. Graffiti covers the walls of forgotten structures as vegetation slowly hides the scars. But the hidden danger still lurks below, biding its time as the fire follows the coal seam over 3 miles and shows no signs of slowing. All the while, fossil fuels continue to burn, releasing untold amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
The mine fire has made the town of Centralia essentially uninhabitable and destroyed its way of life. Once a close-knit mining community of over 2,000 residents, Centralia is now an eerie shell claimed by a human-caused tragedy. The fate of the town serves as a poignant example of the hidden costs of ecological damage from industry gone awry. Deep below the surface, untamed forces we unleash continue simmering, affecting everything in their path.
The Centralia mine fire reminds us of humanity’s complex relationship with the unseen powers we wield, often without care for long-term consequences. Over 50 years later, the destructive impact still unfolds, swallowing any efforts to control its slow spread underground. But the fire presents an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and avoid future catastrophes with care and wisdom. Though abandoned on the surface, the ruins of Centralia still have much to teach us.
Stay curious, keep exploring. 😊
I was thinking about... 