Additional Coverage:
- A fire has been burning under this Pennsylvania ghost town for more than 60 years — take a look (businessinsider.com)
Centralia: The Town That Refused to Die (And Keeps Burning)
Once a vibrant coal mining hub, Centralia, Pennsylvania, is now a smoldering testament to an underground inferno that has been raging for over six decades. What remains of this once-bustling community is a landscape of cracked pavements, charred trees, and eerie plumes of toxic gas seeping from the earth. While most residents were relocated by the government, a handful stubbornly held their ground, creating a unique saga of defiance against a literal burning threat.
A Fiery Beginning
The infamous Centralia fire ignited in 1962, believed to have started in a landfill and spread to the labyrinthine coal mines beneath the town. Efforts to extinguish the blaze proved futile and prohibitively expensive.
By the early 1980s, the U.S. government stepped in, offering to buy out homes and relocate residents. This move marked the beginning of Centralia’s transformation from a thriving town to a modern-day ghost story.
The Stubborn Few
Despite the dangers-including sinkholes, toxic fumes, and ground temperatures hot enough to fry an egg-a small contingent of residents refused to leave their homes. This led to a decades-long legal battle, culminating in a 2013 settlement that granted the remaining residents the right to stay until their deaths, along with a significant payout. Among them is Harold Mervine, who continues to reside in the house his grandfather built nearly a century ago, a powerful symbol of the town’s enduring spirit.
From Boomtown to Bust and Beyond
Founded in 1866, Centralia thrived as a mining town, peaking at over 2,700 residents in 1890. Its importance diminished over the years, and by 2002, the U.S. Postal Service even revoked its ZIP code, making daily necessities like mail delivery a challenge for those who remained.
Today, Centralia, with its dwindling population of five recorded in the 2020 census, has become an accidental tourist attraction. Its desolate landscape, marked by steam rising from cracks in the ground, famously inspired the 2006 horror film “Silent Hill.” However, this newfound fame comes with its own set of frustrations for the remaining residents, who often contend with trespassers, litter, and even vandalism from curious sightseers.
A Burning Legacy
Officials estimate that the underground fire, spanning 350 acres and reaching temperatures of up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, could continue to burn for another 100 years. The memory of Centralia’s past was briefly rekindled in 2014 when a water-damaged time capsule, buried in 1966, was opened prematurely. While many contents were destroyed, the event highlighted the deep attachment current and former residents held for their unique, burning hometown.
As one resident eloquently put it, “People have called it a ghost town, but I look at it as a town that’s now full of trees instead of people. And truth is, I’d rather have trees than people.” Centralia remains a poignant reminder of both the destructive power of nature and the unyielding spirit of those who call a place home, no matter the cost.