Underground Fire Burns For 38 Years

CENTRALIA, PA - Way back in 1961 a small but prosperous mining
town in Pennsylvania was looking for a place to burn its trash.

Forgetting the fundamentals of physics they decided to use an
abandoned coal mine.

The fire caught an exposed vein of coal
which began to burn underground.

Smoke, fumes and toxic gases
soon began to come up though back yards, basements and streets
making the town uninhabitable.

Almost 40 years and 40 million
dollars later the fire still burns.

Ironically, the drastic
approach needed to contain the mine fire is hampered by a
handful of determined residents who are fighting in court to
remain in town among plumes of sulphur and smoke.