I like things beyond the norm. And I decided to start a series of writings of just that. So here is my first. Centralia, Pennsylvania.
Centralia is in the heart of the Anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. Anthracite is valuable, making up only about 2% of coal held in coal stores. Almost all of the nation's anthracite coal is found in eastern Pennsylvania. There are about 7 billion tons of minable anthracite coal reserves in Pennsylvania.
With that bit of history in mind, let's move to the year 1961. Somewhere along the outskirts of Centralia, an old open pit mine was used for burning the town's trash. The fire in the open pit caught fire to an exposed vein of anthracite coal, and the coal began to burn underground. Forty three years and over forty million dollars later, the coal still burns through old coal mines and following the coal under the town and the surrounding hillsides. The fire, smoke, fumes and toxic gases that came up though the back yards, basements and streets of Centralia have efficiently made Centralia a near ghost town. Attempts to put the fires out have been unsuccessful. The coal fire is slowly but surely creeping toward the nearby community of Ashland.
Most of the residents of Centralia have been relocated over the years with the aid of government grants. But there are a few die hard residents who refuse to leave. Some sources say this has hampered the plan of the government to take a more drastic approach to extinguish the fire. This plan involves digging a 500 foot trench (that was not a typo...yes...500 FEET) surrounding the entire town, in the attempt to contain the underground furnace. Studies have shown that if the fire is not contained it will threaten the neighboring town of Ashland, less that two miles away. The operation will cost an estimated 460 million dollars. The government's plan may not be completely altruistic. Upon evacuating the rest of the town's inhabitants and snuffing the fire, the remaining unburnt coal is free to be mined.
The roads of Centralia are literally melting from the heat beneath the ground surface. Steam and noxious fumes rise continually. Centralia is not a safe place to wander around. And the ground has a habit of opening up beneath unsuspecting feet. On Febuary 14, 1981, the ground collapsed under Todd Domboski. A hole about 4 feet in diameter and roughly 150 feet deep had opened under him. He clung to exposed tree roots and was pulled to safety by his cousin. The heat or the carbon monoxide in the breach would have been sufficient to kill him instantly if he had gone just a little deeper. Not a place for a vacation, but interesting nonetheless.
Centralia doesn't show on all maps anymore. But if you find yourself in the coal region of Pennsylvania, following Route 61 north through Ashland about 1.5 miles beyond the right turn at the top of the hill will take you through the heart of Centralia.
But watch that first step; it may be a doozey.
;-)
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