Something's Burning In Centralia

This is a very interesting story. At least I think so....

I came across this story today, about a town in Pennsylvania called 'Centralia.' It's not accurately documented how it happened, but a fire started in the old coal mines that were laced underneath the town. This fire started back in the 60's, and they didn't notice it until a few years later, but there is enough coal there to allow the fire to burn for up to 250 years. They attempted to put out the fire, but they could not do so. They basically just decided to live with it, but eventually holes would unexpectedly open up in the ground, spewing out toxic smoke into the air. Most people eventually moved away because of the state buying out their homes (being that it was unfit to live there) but some people stayed. The current population of the town is around a dozen people.

I found this absolutely amazing. Not even in the sense that there's an indefinite fire burning underneath a town, but that people still choose to live there, even with gaping holes in the ground expelling hazardous smoke. Simply amazing.




'There now, Pennsylvania;
My circus fire is burning.
Were you there when I started,
Or are you leaving me for good?'