The above coordinates will take you to the center of Centralia PA.
Centralia - Columbia County, Pennsylvania - The fire was started in
a garbage dump over an open coal seam in May of 1962. The fire was
reported and seemed to be quenched at the time, but actually
continued underground. There are many additional versions of the
original cause but the garbage pit and the date are probably right.
First bid to extinguish the fire was $175. In July of 1962, the
Department of Environmental Resources started to monitor the fire.
Boreholes were drilled to check to extent and the temperature of
the fire. Some thought they also provided an natural draft which
helped combustion. Gas monitors were also installed in most homes
in the area above the hottest fire (the impact area). On May 22,
1969 the first three families were moved from Centralia. A trench
was dug north of the Odd Fellows Cemetery where fly ash and clay
seals were used in am attempt to put out the fire. According to
Tony Gaughan (quoted in "Slow Burn"), if the trench had been dug in
three shifts per day instead of one and if they had worked through
the Labor Day holiday, the fire would have been contained. He said
the project was $50,000 short of completion. In 1980, the U.S.
Bureau of Mines "Red Book" said, "The Centralia mine fire has not
been extinguished and has not been controlled." In the year
twenty-seven more families were moved at a price that was
comparatively less than later buy-outs. On February 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. This incident provoked the first national media attention.
By 1983, the government said the fire was advancing on three or
four fronts. Proposed trenching of the area might cost as much as
$660 million with no guarantee of success. One of the larger
trenches would have bisected the town roughly from east to west. A
government buy-out was proposed instead of the trenching and there
was a referendum held. The homeowners voted to accept the buy-out
345 to 200. Only those whose names were on the deeds could vote.
From 1962 to 1984, $7 million had been spent. In November of 1983,
$42 million was voted for the buy-out. In 1983, there was fire
under about 350 surface acres. By 1991, this area had been
increased by about three-quarters. Worst case scenario would be
about 3700 acres and possibly a hundred years. Finally 26 homes
along Route 61 west of town were bought in April of 1991. There
were no further plans to fight the fire. The population of
Centralia as of 4/18/97 was 44 people and has dwindled since. There
are just a few scattered homes today remaining in the town along
with the borough hall. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania owns the
remaining homes. The monetary value of each property is in escrow
or tied up in the legal system. Until the remaining people move,
the future of this town is unknown. The State is being very lenient
at this time. The State owns the homes but the remaining people are
still paying the property taxes on the houses. ABOVE INFORMATION
FROM http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/the-story.htm PLEASE
NOTE,
Use EXTREME CAUTION in the area! The fire is still active
and venting gasses. Stick to paved areas and well used trails,
BUSHWHACKING MAY BE DANGEROUS. Locals do still have walking
trails in the area though. To log this cache, please upload a photo
of you and your party near the Underground Mine Fire Warning signs
at the detoru on RT 61 or in front of the Fire Dept building. If
solo caching, a photo of your GPS in front of either location will
be acceptible.
Note NEW LOGGING REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH GEOCACHING.COM
REQUIREMENTS You must complete one of the following educational
tasks;
1. Research and post some aspect of the history of the fire, or
mines that were in Centralia and post the information in your
log.
2. Research another Coal mine fire, posting the following
information, Name & Location of mine fire, dates of fire
(start/end/ongoing) any evacuations due to fire. Fires in culm
(waste coal) piles also acceptable.
3. Research and post some information on Anthracite coal and or
Anthracite mining.
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