The event in Centralia

A great example of communities being affected by coal mining is the story of Centralia, Pennsylvania. This story took place in 1962 when a fire broke out near a coal mine – the fire itself caused some sparks to ignite a vain that was exposed below the town. This issue was that once the coal caught on fire it was almost impossible to put it out. This created large plumes of toxic gasses that rose to the surface and engulfed the town – which eventually closed the town because it caught on fire. As a result coal mining a community that was filled with people because a ghost town; therefore literally uprooting the people and created a ghost town. By 1980 the fire in the coal mine affected 200 acres and many neighbors abandoned their homes as well as their community. In 1983 they estimated that if the fire continued it could have gone on for centuries and even effected up to 3,700 acres. Some 1,600 people were displaced and 600 buildings were eventually abandoned.

What transpired:

Abandoned Buildings:

A Ghost Town:

Centralia Then:

Centralia Now: