This Town Has Been Burning For 62 Years

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4 September 2024


Centralia, a town in Pennsylvania, United States, was once a thriving mining town, but a devastating fire in May 1962 changed everything

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Reports say that a hidden, underground fire spread through the extensive network of underground mining tunnels, causing widespread destruction

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Fissures opened up in the ground, releasing noxious gases and smoke into the town, forcing most residents to flee

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Shockingly, the fire is still burning today, 62 years later

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Before the fire, Centralia had a rich history. Founded in 1866, the town was built on abundant anthracite coal deposits

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The mining industry drove the local economy, employing thousands. By the 1890s, the town boasted a population of over 2,700 people

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However, the 1962 fire marked the beginning of the end for Centralia. The underground inferno continued to burn, rendering the town uninhabitable

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After spending $7 million trying to put out the fire, Pennsylvania gave up in the 1990s

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According to the state's Department of Environmental Protection, the fire could burn for another century if left uncontrolled

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However, the town has emerged as a popular tourist destination over the past three decades

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One of its main draws was the infamous "Graffiti Highway," an abandoned stretch of Route 61 transformed into a vibrant canvas by street artists

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