A local sign warning of the underground fire. The sign no longer stands.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church on North Paxton Street, Centralia, PA. The church is on a hillside overlooking Centralia, a town nearly abandoned due to an underground coal seam fire.
The ruined section of Route 61, Centralia
Related YouTube videos about Centralia, PA ...
2009-2011 - Centralia, PA., - Abandoned, on Fire, and still Smoking Centralia, Pa., Trips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtVHmjNJvk4&feature=player_embedded
The Real Silent Hill - Centralia PA Mine Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XTDAJMXZQKo
ping
Great story... I have seen it firsthand. Yes... there is actual steam rising from the ground. My parents were born and raised nearby. The weird part of mining towns, IMHO, is the houses in many areas sink (the mines are underneath). It is not uncommon to see the old mining homes tilt or be sunken several feet. I may be wrong, DogByte... but I thought I was forwarded an article (from a cousin who lives near that town) that the last resident finally left Centralia? Very cool article....
How long before the coal fires reach China?
I wonder where the fire is getting oxygen from.
I have some second cousins once removed (second cousins of my father, with whom he kept up) whom I visited in Centralia as a lad before it was evacuated.
It was strange, you kicked a stone and sulphurous steam would come out of the ground. The stone would have sulphur crystals on the underside.
Another photo of the abandoned Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Centralia"You and your staff are making budget cuts everywhere," the sign says. "How can you allow (the state) to waste money trying to force these residents out of their homes? These people want to pay their taxes and be left alone and live where they choose!"
I have to agree but I am sure for different reasons than the town residents.
What business does the state have using taxpayer funds buying dangerous property? What business doe the state have spending taxpayer funds forcing citizens to sell property they do not want to sell?
I agree with the sentiment above the states have precious little money laying around that they can afford to spend it willy-nilly on property that can not be used for any useful purpose. And if they do it would be better to cut taxes so that the people can put those funds to their own purposes.
Same article with comments here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2888253/posts
We can call the Company Coalyndra.
Related op-ed posted to FR last year ... this has some great background into the comedy of errors that occurred by both governments and environmental activists after the fire began in 1962.
“Centralia is a metaphor showcasing government failure while exposing environmental activists’ true agenda.
Government’s inability to solve the problem has extended the crisis and escalated the costs. Their best effort is to put up a few warning signs and hope it goes away.
Silence is also deafening from the Green crowd. When confronted with a real environmental disaster their inaction is morally repugnant. Can’t let toxic fumes or scorched earth stop them from their true purpose, fundraising!”
The Best-ever Symbol of Government Incompetence?
American Thinker ^ | May 08, 2011 | Alan M Aszkler
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2716981/posts
If I remember correctly, several early attempts were made to put the fire out with no effect whatsoever. There are a lot of air passages in coal seams as well as a limitless supply of methane and other volatile gases to keep it going.
The air is limited and if they ever hit a wide fissure that can suppply lots of air the fires will become quite large as they are now smoldering due to lack of oxygen.
