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=__//**Centralia, PA**//__= //**A Pennsylvania community consumed by an underground mine fire.**//

The borough of Centralia, located in Columbia County, PA was founded in the 1860's and was known for coal mining. The borough once hosted its own school district, hotels, several churches, two theaters, a bank, post office, and fourteen general and grocery stores. The town had a population of over 2,000 residents when the coal mining was being conducted. Miners came to the area because the borough was situated over a large area of anthracite coal, which was rare and valuable. On memorial day, 1962, a trash fire was lit in an abandoned mine near the town. The fire traveled down a mine shaft, igniting a vein of coal, and spread through the mines under Centralia through the 1960s and 70s.



There are now full fields and meadows with burnt out grass and other wildlife and the ground gets to an extremely hot temperature. In these areas you are able to see vents in the ground releasing toxic gases.

//__PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF THE ISSUE:__//

1. People who lived near the fire reported coal fumes and carbon monoxide in their homes; some reaching threatening levels. 2. Sink holes randomly open. This happened below a child playing in his backyard that was estimated to be 150 feet deep. This is what brought national attention and the Pennsylvania government then made offers to buy out the land from the residents. Currently, there are very few families that still reside in the town. However, sink holes are still a concern and a threat to the curious visitors, which has led to numerous signs being posted by both the government and the locals.



//__PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES RELATED TO THE TOWN OF CENTRALIA, PA:__//

The DEP estimates the fire will continue to burn for at least another 100 years! In the years since the fire started, over 40 million dollars have been spent to try to stop it, or assist the people who have been affected by it. Some residents have also refused the buy out due to various reasons including belief that the state has ulterior motives in forcing them out. They believe that the state wants to claim the rights to the 3,700 acres of coal beneath the borough worth billions of dollars. Because of this "accident" in this small town, there have been questions on policy and who has rights in this kind of situation and also people need the reason the fire has been spreading for so long. Some believe the fire is a giant fraud, including current residents who have been evicted, but refuse to leave.



**Other Property Information** about Centralia
Find Centralia, PA neighborhoods and properties for sale on REALTOR.com®. A Centralia property search will help you find a new home. Public records for Centralia, PA can provide property details or information on the best schools in the area. Get comprehensive Centralia property information on REALTOR.com®, the online leader for real estate. Basic Centralia Property Records Information. The average number of days that a home is on the market is 0 days. The median home price is $0. The average home price is $0.

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//__LINKS TO SOURCES:__//

www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/CentraliaMineFire.html

realtor.com/property-search/Centralia_PA

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