Obviously you would know better than me if there are still any remaining residents in Centralia since you have roots to the area. I only quoted the original news article.
I have never been to the area ... but it holds a certain fascination for me. I have visited many “ghost towns” out here in my area of Southern California ... abandoned mining towns, lost towns along the old Route 66, etc.
I also find the whole story of Centralia very ironic; the fire was apparently started by the fire department at the behest of the local city council. This is yet another reminder that government (at all levels) tends to create more problems than it solves.
It truly is a wonder in some aspects. I mean it has been burning for years and years. Makes you wonder how it all will end. Many townsfolk predicted (years ago) that it will eventually just swallow the town and open up. As a little kid.. it scared the heck out of you. It held images of what you were told hell looked like... Not to be melodramatic but the town does have a smell to it. Not sulphur... something more earthy.
I heard the fire was started by local townspeople, probably kids, who used to dump their trash in a pit.