Is there a coal mine still burning?

Today, Centralia still burns as one of 38 known active mining fires in the Pennsylvania.

Is the Centralia fire spreading?

Today, the Centralia fire covers six square miles and spreads 75 feet per year. Shockingly, it could burn for another 250 years.

How much longer will Centralia burn?

A: If left uncontrolled, it is estimated that the Centralia Mine Fire could burn for over 100 years.

Does Silent Hill really exist?

While the environment of Silent Hill seems as though it could only exist in nightmares, it is actually a very real place with a devastating history. The town of Silent Hill, West Virginia is actually Centralia, Pennsylvania.

Where is Statesville Ohio?

How long has this mine fire been burning in Centralia?

This Mine Fire Has Been Burning For Over 50 Years. Coal seam fires are nothing new, but Centralia’s is the United States’ worst and one of history’s most devastating. Before the 1962 fire, Centralia had been a mining center for over a century. Home to a rich deposit of anthracite coal, the town was incorporated after mining began in the 1850s.

What happened at the New Straitsville mine fire?

The New Straitsville mine fire has raged ever since 1884. It is estimated that more than two hundred square miles of coal has burned. During the late 1800s, nearby residents used water from their wells to brew instant coffee because it was so hot from the fire.

What was the worst coal seam fire in history?

Coal seam fires are nothing new, but Centralia’s is the United States’ worst and one of history’s most devastating. Before the 1962 fire, Centralia had been a mining center for over a century.

What happens to coal when it burns underground?

An underground fire may smolder for years, or even decades, without showing signs on the surface. Eventually, however, in a process called subsidence, burning subterranean coal turns to ash, creating huge underground voids and causing overlying ground to crack and collapse—thus allowing more air in, which fans more fire.