Centralia is for the most part
an abandoned town, with a
current estimated population of
9 people. In 1962 a fire began
in the town's dumping pit
which was located above old
anthracite mining tunnels. The
coal ignited, and the fire
began to travel under the town
throughout the old tunnels. The
fire still burns to this day,
and all attempts to put it out
were bungled, delayed, stopped
due to high cost, or just never
happened because nobody wanted
to take the blame. In 1984 the
government began relocating
citizens, and in 1992 the state
claimed eminent domain, and
condemned all buildings. The
remaining population are those
citizens that refused to move.
The unfortunate reality is that
the town will be left to burn,
and there will be no further
efforts to put out the fire.