I recently took a trip down to Centralia, PA, a town which once thrived through the coal industry. In 1962 workers were burning garbage at the town landfill, when the fire accidentally spread to the coal vein used for mining. The fire has been burning for 46 years and has enough fuel underground to burn for hundreds of years to come. The underground fire caused numerous sink holes, poor air quality and smoke that comes out of the ground in several locations, inspiring the film Silent Hill. This led to the downfall of the town and the relocation of its residents. The town is now nearly vacant aside from a handful of residents who remain.
For more about the history of Centralia, click here.
Posts
