The ruins of Centralia Pennsylvania no longer exists on some maps. The story began sometime in 1961 along the outskirts of town when trash was burned in an old open pit mine. The fire in the open pit caught an exposed vein of coal on fire. The coal then began to burn underground. That was in 1961. Over 40 years and 40 million dollars later the fire still burns through old coal mines and veins following the coal under the town and the surrounding hillsides.

The fire, smoke, fumes and toxic gases that came up though the back yards, basements and streets of Centralia practically ripped the town apart. Attempts to put the fires out were unsuccessful. Most of the residents were relocated over the years with grants from the federal government although some die-hards still remain in the town, fighting in court to remain in town. According to some sources, this in turn has hampered plans to attempt a more drastic approach to containing the mine fires. The plans are to dig a 500 foot deep trench around the town to try to stop the expansion of the fire into a much larger vein of coal. Studies have shown that if the fire is not contained it will threaten the neighboring town of Ashland, less that two miles away. Many people including former (and current) residents of Centralia insist that there is more to this story than meets the eye. Some believe that the rich deposits of coal beneath the town itself is the reason for the forced relocation of the towns people. The stories around what is happening here vary depending on who you talk to or what you read. (Text borrowed from: http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia.htm )