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- Centralia Is Still Burning & What To Know About Coal Seam Fires Today
Summary
- The Centralia fire, which began in 1962, is still burning and is expected to continue burning for hundreds of years as coal seam fires are the longest-lasting fires on Earth.
- Visitors to Centralia now have to walk into the town as the Grafitti Highway, once a main attraction, has been covered with dirt to discourage vandalism. The ground remains unstable due to the ongoing fires.
- Only ten residents remain in Centralia as hazards from carbon monoxide levels and unstable ground have forced people to move away. The town has abandoned homes and cemeteries, but visiting should be done with respect and caution.
At one point in time, the town of Centralia was a symbol of success for Pennsylvania mining. While not the largest population, it was estimated that almost 1,100 people resided within it. Considering the small size of the town, this made it feel like a bustling community and one that never would have anticipated the events to follow in May 1962.
This is when the fires broke out underground in Centralia. It was believed that a fire was created at the wrong place and the wrong time, and ultimately led to the creation of a ghost town. As the underground fires ripped through the coal mine passages, the town began crumbling, cracking, and exposing hazardous carbon monoxide and other gases into the air. Now, in 2023, the town itself has been cut off from vehicle traffic and is more deserted than ever before while Centralia is still burning.
Will Centralia, PA, ever stop burning
UPDATE: 2023/05/28 18:21 EST BY AARON SPRAY
Centralia Is Still Burning & What To Know About Coal Seam Fires Today
The Centralia fire is still burning and will likely continue to burn for hundreds of years to come. Coal seam fires can burn for thousands of years and are the longest-lasting fires on earth. This article was updated and expanded with more information about what coal seam fires are.
No Way In, And No Way Out Of Centralia (& Centralia Is Still Burning)
Today, those visiting will need to put in a little footwork in order to hoof it into the town of Centralia. While the Grafitti Highway, which was part of Route 61, was once a main attraction when entering Centralia, it has since been covered with dirt. This was done to discourage vandalism and visitors who were coming to Centralia for the wrong reasons. Now, trees and other plant life have begun taking over the highway, making it look truly apocalyptic. While Graffiti Highway is still an attraction for some, it has been given over to nature and looks nothing like it did.
Additionally, those visiting should be well aware that this is not a typical trip to a ghost town. The fires underneath Centralia were estimated to burn for at least 500 years, if not more, which means the ground will be unstable for some time (so yes, Centralia is still burning). In 1981, a boy by the name of Todd Domboski was playing in his backyard when he nearly fell into a 150-foot-deep sinkhole. The boy's family and friends were able to rescue him, but at the time, it showed that no location in Centralia was 'safe' from the damage that was happening just below the surface.
Around the town, visitors will see signs referring to this danger, cautioning them to be aware or turn back from particularly dangerous areas.
What Still Exists In Centralia?
As of 2012, only ten residents remained in Centralia's town limits. That number has since dwindled with growing hazards from the town's carbon monoxide levels and the instability of the ground it sits on. With that being said, there are still some things in the town that have been left behind and remained practically untouched. On the way into the town, just past the sign that once welcomed people to Centralia, there are three cemeteries. These have remained well-kept and allow those who once lived in town to continue to pay their respects to family and friends who are no longer with them.
*It should be stated that these cemeteries, specifically, are not a tourist destination. Any visits should be paid with respect and done so without drawing attention.
One of these, Odd Fellows Cemetary, has been known to occasionally release smoke through the ground.
In addition to its abandoned residential streets, those walking through Centralia will see homes that were left abandoned as families moved away. The entire scene is far more tragic than one might realize, with empty backyards and out-of-use porches once holding memories for many. The damage that the fires have caused above the surface can be seen, as well - many curbs and streets are protruding upward due to the explosive nature of the fires below.
Another iconic landmark in Centralia that is still standing today is the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church. This towering church stands apart with its bright white exterior and blue and gold steeples. It was one of few buildings that were spared by the destruction of the underground fires, and it's one that many people enjoy photographing to this day.
- Fact: This church is one of five that could once be found throughout Centralia - making it the last one remaining.
Is Visiting Centralia Worth Visiting Today?
For those who are all too familiar with the history of this tragically-fated town, the short answer is no. As families fled their homes, the memories of a once-beloved town went with them, leaving behind a grim reminder of what once was. Leaving Graffiti Highway open also left this ghost town prone to vandalism, and it's one of the few Pennsylvania landmarks that people are actively discouraged from visiting. For those who do choose to enter the abandoned grounds of Centralia, use caution (and remember that Centralia is still burning).
Graffiti Highway Was Covered Up
One of the main attractions for folks in Centralia was its famed Graffiti Highway. The Graffiti Highway is an abandoned stretch of PA 61 just south of Centralia. It became a magnet for graffiti and became one of the most popular unusual attractions in Pennsylvania for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Covered Up: In April 2020
- Abandoned: 1993
- Length: 0.74 Miles
However, this is no longer the case, as during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, it was covered up with truckloads of soil. Locals were complaining about all the unwanted visitors and the more unwanted graffiti everywhere (including some in cemeteries and other places).
As of 2023, the Graffiti Highway is no more (or at least it is buried out of sight).
What To Know About Coal-Seam Fires & Why Centralia Is Still Burning
There are plenty more coal seam fires around the world, and the fire at Centralia is hardly unique. Coal seam fires are those fires burning outcrops or underground coal seams. They are typically sheltered from rain and snow and are the most persistent fires on Earth. It is possible for coal seam fires to burn for thousands of years.
As they are underground, they are extremely difficult to put out (as the case of the fires of Centralia illustrates).
One example of a coal-seam fire that has been burning for thousands of years is Burning Mountain in Australia. While some coal fires are ignited by mining activity, they can also be naturally ignited by self-heating of low-temperature oxidation, wildfires, and lightning.
There are also other types of mine fires - for example, gas wells can become ignited (perhaps the most famous example is the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan). A small natural fire to discover in New York state is the Eternal Flame of the Eternal Flame Falls, which burns gas oozing out of the rock.