Centralia, Pennsylvania — The Town Burning Underground for Over 60 Years

It may sound like something from a dystopian novel or a video game, but there is a real town in the United States that has been burning underground since 1962. The town is called Centralia, located in Pennsylvania, and what lies beneath its surface is a fire that’s still smoldering more than 60 years later.

Once a bustling mining town, Centralia is now almost completely abandoned — with cracked roads, billowing smoke, and a silent reminder of how a small mistake can lead to environmental disaster.

🏠 Where Is Centralia, and What Happened?

Centralia was a coal-mining town established in the mid-19th century. In 1962, the local fire department attempted to burn trash in an old strip mine pit, a practice that had been used many times before.

However, this time, the fire reached an exposed coal seam — and it never went out. The underground fire spread through the maze of abandoned coal tunnels beneath the town. Despite multiple attempts, officials were unable to extinguish it.

🔥 Why Can’t the Fire Be Put Out?

Coal fires are notoriously difficult to stop. Once ignited, they can burn for centuries. The Centralia fire moves slowly, consuming coal and creating toxic gases and sinkholes along the way.

The fire is burning in the Mammoth coal seam, and it spreads at a rate of about 75 feet per year. Engineers tried:

• Digging trenches
• Flooding the area
• Sealing mine entrances

But nothing worked. Eventually, it became clear that the fire could not be contained.

😷 The Dangers: Toxic Fumes and Collapsing Ground

As the fire spread, the ground above began to crack and collapse, releasing carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other gases.

Residents reported:

• Nausea and headaches
• Sinking foundations
• Smoke rising from backyards

In 1981, a 12-year-old boy fell into a sinkhole that suddenly opened beneath his feet. He was rescued, but the incident brought national attention to the disaster.

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🚷 Evacuation and Abandonment

In the 1980s, the federal government offered to relocate the residents. Most accepted, and homes were demolished over time. In 1992, the state condemned the town via eminent domain.

Today, only a handful of residents remain, and most of Centralia has vanished into memory. Its ZIP code was revoked, and Google Maps lists it as a ghost town.

🎮 Pop Culture Legacy: The Inspiration for Silent Hill

Centralia’s eerie, smoke-filled streets inspired the creators of the “Silent Hill” video game and film series. With foggy roads, mysterious gas vents, and a feeling of desolation, the real-life Centralia is just as chilling as its fictional counterpart.

🔬 How Long Will It Burn?

Estimates suggest the fire could burn for 250 more years, consuming millions of tons of coal underground. With no feasible way to stop it and no incentive to fund massive interventions, Centralia is left to smolder on — an eternal cautionary tale.

🧠 Fun Fact:

Despite the danger, the nearby highway Route 61 (also called the “Graffiti Highway”) became a popular urban exploration site until it was covered and closed in 2020.