Centralia Mine Fire - Centralia, PA
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Math Teacher
N 40° 48.255 W 076° 20.452
18T E 386896 N 4517892
Well, it has been over two years since I visited this burning town but the impression is lasting. When the government officially deleted the zip code for this town in 2003, that signaled official ghost town status and a roadside attraction.
Waymark Code: WM6RC3
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 07/12/2009
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member Mark1962
Views: 33

You can definitely see the smoke coming out of the road if you pull over and look closely. It is over a small hump in the road but is ti easily discernible. I actually discovered this place while completing an earthcache.

This was definitely the most interesting of my Earthcache visits. I found the detour sign and took the pictures. I drove all around the area. I stopped at the memorial and the time capsule so I could snap some pictures and waypoint them. I found both benches and the mayor's house and drove back around to the detour. About this time, two trucks with young kids (19-20) drove up and offered to take me on a safe tour of the area.

Next thing I know, we are on the road that is "closed" and drove about .25 mile and stopped. From here I could see how the road has been bent and twisted and in one place cracked open with smoke coming out. The boys informed me that this crack was just a small fissure not too long ago and has been spreading rapidly. I think this could mean that the rest of the road leading up to the still drivable road will be in trouble and possible closed within our lifetime.

Wanting to learn more about this fire, I drove to the nearby Masonic lodge, where a brother is always welcome and spoke to one of the officers. The common belief in Ashland was that a single person was burning garbage and it fell down a "chute" and ignited the coal. He did not believe it was a garbage heap or dump but a solitary individual. People have a few suspects but he could not give me a definitive name.

Another interesting fact I learned about mining after talking with local residents is some of the old timers still gather Anthracite coal in the burning area and take it home and burn it in their pot-bellied stoves. Technically, there is still mining going on there!
Price of Admission: 0.00 (listed in local currency)

Weekday Hours: From: 12:00 AM To: 12:00 AM

Weekend Hours: From: 12:00 AM To: 12:00 AM

Roadside Attractions Website: [Web Link]

Location Website: [Web Link]

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