AmericaA decades-long fire transformed the mining town of Centralia from a vibrant place into a desolate hell.
Before 1962, Centralia, Pennsylvania, was a thriving mining town. However, that changed when the fire broke out last May. Although authorities are not sure what sparked the fire, the results are easy to see. The fire spread into the maze of mines below the town, causing damage along the way. Fissures appeared in the ground, causing gas and smoke to spread throughout the town, and most residents were forced to evacuate. Today, 62 years later, the fire continues to burn, according to IFL Science.
Before the fires started, Centralia relied on the mining industry for more than a century. The key to the town’s success is the abundant anthracite coal deposit beneath its surface. Just as the mine opened, Centralia was annexed in 1866. The town was originally named Centerville but changed its name in 1865 after the U.S. Postal Service indicated there was already a town of the same name in Schuylkill County. In the 1890s, the town was home to more than 2,700 people dependent on the mine. Even when the Great Depression hit, forcing many mines to close, the town thrived.
During its existence, fires were not uncommon in Centralia. Several fires broke out in the mines during the 19th and 20th centuries, causing varying degrees of damage. However, no accident can compare to the fire of 1962. Authorities do not know exactly when or how the fire broke out. One popular theory is that the fire started in the Centralia landfill, which was one of several mines converted into dumping grounds. At that time, the town council wanted to solve the problem of garbage that attracted many rats and caused an unpleasant odor. In May 1962, they wanted to clean up the landfill before the holidays in Centralia and their solution was to burn the landfill.
It is possible that the fire spread deep into the mine, causing a vein of coal to ignite and expand into a much larger fire. Because the mine was spread out and interwoven beneath the entire town, all mining operations had to stop because the carbon monoxide fumes were too toxic. The fire spread so far into the tunnel network that containment seemed impossible. People in Centralia were compensated to move elsewhere. Not long after, all the houses in the town were abandoned. Only 7 residents remain in the town but are prohibited from transferring their homes to others.
The fire beneath Centralia continues today and could continue for another 250 years until all its fuel is burned. However, this is not the only case. Around the world, there are thousands of fires caused by burning coal, all of which are nearly impossible to extinguish. The risk is increasing. Open coal seams are exposed to oxygen and can easily catch fire due to human activity or natural chemical processes. The US, China and India are the countries with the highest number of fires caused by coal burning in the world.