Will the Centralia fire spread?

“The Centralia Mine Fire is restricted by natural and man-made barriers to the south of relocated State Route 61 and, therefore, we do not anticipate it moving south toward populated areas.” No new residents are allowed to move into Centralia. Today, there are about five houses remaining. But Centralia isn't forgotten.

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Can the Centralia fire spread to other towns?

36) Q: Can the Centralia Mine Fire burn under any other nearby towns? A: Residents of the nearby villages of Byrnesville and Germantown were relocated, but the Centralia Mine Fire is restricted by natural and man-made barriers. No additional towns are believed threatened by the coal bed fire.

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How far has the Centralia fire spread?

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

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Why can't the Centralia fire be flooded with water?

Flooding the area with water was rejected: it is nearly impossible to inundate a large underground area, especially one as complex and well drained as Centralia. In any case, water would have had to be pumped in for years to dissipate the fire's heat.

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How long will the Centralia fire last?

At its current rate, it could continue to burn for over 250 years.

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Burning Coal Country: Is underground fire spreading towards homes, businesses in Schuylkill

31 related questions found

Why can't they put out the Centralia mine fire?

However, experts believe the fires under Centralia could burn another 250 years before they exhaust the coal supply that fuels them. Why don't firemen simply put them out? They can't! The fires are too deep and burn too hot to be fought effectively.

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What is the oldest fire still burning?

A coal seam-fueled eternal flame in Australia known as "Burning Mountain" is claimed to be the world's longest burning fire, at 6,000 years old. A coal mine fire in Centralia, Pennsylvania, has been burning beneath the borough since 1962.

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Is Silent Hill based on Centralia?

Centralia, the Pennsylvania town that has been burning for 60 years. The video game series is set in the fictional town of Silent Hill in the USA, inspired by the very real town of Centralia, Pennsylvania.

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Is Silent Hill still burning?

Silent Hill is a fictitious town largely based on the tragic events in Centralia, Pennsylvania. Is the mine fire still burning under Centralia? Yes, the mine fire started on May 27, 1962 and is still burning today. Estimates show there is enough coal for the fire to burn for 250 years.

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Where is the world's oldest continuous underground fire?

The fire is burning within a coal seam in New South Wales, Australia. In a remote nature reserve in the Australian state of New South Wales, there is a strange fire which has been burning underground for at least 6,000 years, making it the oldest known fire in the world.

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How many people died in the Centralia Mine Fire?

Remembering The Centralia Mine Disaster On this day in 1947, a coal mine in Centralia, Ill., exploded, killing 111 miners.

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Do some people still live in Centralia?

Today, according to the U.S. census, just nine remain. The people who abandoned Centralia had a very good reason. On May 27, 1962, someone started a fire in a trash dump on the edge of town. It wasn't known at the time, but the fire was over an open coal seam.

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How much would it cost to put out the Centralia Mine Fire?

In 1984, with the cost of putting out the fire estimated at $660 million, Congress passed a bill that would provide $42 million to relocate, on a voluntary basis, the families that wished to leave Centralia. Some have estimated that $50,000 may have been enough money to end the fire in 1962.

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Can you legally go to Centralia?

In short, there is nothing stopping visitors from driving into the borough, parking, and walking around. A majority of Centralia is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was acquired through the power of eminent domain in the early 1990s. In that sense, most of the land within the borough is public property.

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Is it safe to drive through Centralia?

A few people have asked if it is dangerous to visit Centralia PA. In short, not really. Though, you do have to be careful. The main danger to visitors exploring the borough is subsidence.

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How many people died in Centralia?

In the Centralia mine disaster on March 25, 1947, the Centralia No. 5 coal mine exploded near the town of Centralia, Illinois, killing 111 people.

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Why was Silent Hill banned in Australia?

Australia's strict video game classification regime claimed several high-profile game casualties during 2008. Shellshock 2: Blood Trails, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Dark Sector, F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, and Fallout 3 were all refused the maximum MA15+ rating, effectively banning them from sale down under.

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Why did Silent Hill get banned?

One scene in particular that was highlighted as a problem involved Alex (the main character) having a drill forced into his right eye socket, which caused a lot of blood to spray out. Konami is being urged to tone down the violence so that the game can see a release down there.

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What is the most disturbing in Silent Hill?

Lisa from P.T. is by far the most horrifying monster in the franchise, partly because there is nothing the player can do to stop her. P.T. is a non-combative game, so the player can only watch Lisa as she haunts them in order to progress the game.

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What horror movie is based on Centralia?

Screenwriter Roger Avery (Pulp Fiction) took the real ghost town of Centralia, Pennsylvania and used it as inspiration for the 2006 film's Silent Hill setting. The real story is a tragic tale of destruction and loss, and it's a story that has still not reached its conclusion.

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Is Silent Hill real or a hallucination?

Is Silent Hill all a hallucination? The town of Silent Hill is not actually filled with monsters. It is a waking nightmare, or dreamlike hallucination that only James can see. This is shown by each other character experiencing it this as their own personal psychosis, fueled by their own ego.

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What started the Centralia fire?

The fire reportedly originated as an intentional controlled burning of residential trash in an abandoned strip pit (surface mine). The strip pit had been left open after being excavated around 1935 and was approximately 75 feet wide and 50 feet deep.

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What is the oldest fire in Australia?

Found in Australia's New South Wales, this is the site of the world's oldest known coal fire that hasn't gone out for thousands of years. Most scientists believe the fire has been burning for at least 6,000 years, although some contend it's much older.

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What is the biggest fire in history?

The biggest wildfire in recorded US history is the 1825 Miramichi Fire. It blazed through an estimated 3,000,000 million acres and claimed at least 160 lives. That makes it not just one of the most widespread fires, but also one of the deadliest.

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When was the worst fire in history?

On October 8, 1871, the most devastating forest fire in American history swept through northeast Wisconsin, claiming 1200+ lives. [For more about the Peshtigo fire, click here.]

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