The Real Silent Hill - Centralia, PA - Underground Mine Fire Burning Since '62

[GhostDakota]

For those who are unaware, Centralia, PA has a mine fire burning deep underneath the town. The fire started in the trash pit back in 1962 and has been burning ever since. Estimates put the duration of the burn (From this point) in centuries - 250-500 years or more. Roger Avery, director of the "Silent Hill" movie, has said part of his inspiration for the movie was from Centralia. He was told about Centralia when he was a child by his father. He and the production crew for the movie visited Centralia as well.

I edited a video late last night (1am). It has some good shots of the highway, smoke from the fire, the church, etc. I've only edited 1 other video ever, so it's nothing amazing.

Click here for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynfKrvRhFF4

Once a thriving mountain town with thousands of people, on top of a massive deposite of Anthracite coal (the longest burning coal in the world), Centralia has deteriorated significantly over the years. Currently the population estimate is under 7 people. As of yesterday it seems only 2-3 houses, a church, an autobody style shop, and the municpal building remain.

Route 61, the main north-south thru-road, has had problems as well. The only Route 61 has subsided extensively. That part of the road has been closed, and a new road around it has been established for several years now. As you can see from the image below, it is not somewhere you want to drive your car. Though a Jeep, or other four wheel drive vehicle makes for a fun time:





As you heard from the video, this is the most people I've EVER seen here on one trip:




This part of Centralia is the ridge that runs west to east:


In the distance you can see new wind turbines that were added over the last 2-3 years:




You can also see the church:


Which upon closer inspection, is really quite near to the church in "Silent Hill" - closer shot:


One of 3 cemetaries in town:




Heading out of town to the East provides some great trails. There are some nice powerlines trails, and intersecting trails that provide some mild wheeling. Nothing too crazy, but it can get a little sketchy at times. Some shots here:




More trips, more videos, more photos in the future. I'm open to recommendations on what you would like to see more of when I head up there next time.

[GhostDakota]

Some "smoke" photos - here are some older photos with the smoke:
















Self portrait of me hanging out in one of the smoke filled holes:

[chrisfrom nj]

that place looks like a cool place to go

[OG]

That place is creepy! too bad the power lines and wind mills ruin it lol

[rickyd13]

uhh bro i think your on the wrong side of the road

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by rickyd13

uhh bro i think your on the wrong side of the road

Where he's going, they don't need roads.

[7998]

Pretty cool. My wife is dying to go there but I need a Jeep first.

[JW]

I feel like I read this before, did you post this last year?

JW

[OG]

Originally Posted by 7998

I need a Jeep first.

from the pics it looks like a lot of people are hoofing it...

[7998]

Originally Posted by OG

from the pics it looks like a lot of people are hoofing it...

Shhhhh! It's called leverage. It's how you get what you want in a marriage.

Wife: I want to go to Centrailia.
Me: Honey, you can't near that place unless we had a Jeep Unlimited preferably a Rubicon w/35" tires, Freedom top, sound bar, heated seats with GPS.

[OG]

thats why my wife drives the brand new grand cherokee limited and all my cars are sh**ters that are stuck in the 80's!

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by JW

I feel like I read this before, did you post this last year?

JW

I thought the same thing. Looks like new pictures though. I'd love to go visit, maybe I'll convince the crew to drive out there one day in my buddy's JK.

[GhostDakota]

I've been to Centralia maybe 10 times now? I go once or twice a year at least. So yes, I have definitely posted prior shots here :P As you can see, the vehicles change (though they remain Jeep). I'm on my 7th Jeep.. ugh.. lol.

[The_Bishop]

As someone who uses breathing protection on a regular basis, I just wanted to let you know that the gas mask isn't going to stop the really nasty stuff in that smoke.

[B4C]

We drag raced out Jeeps on that road last time LOL. The crack in the road is starting to get big. I have never seen that many people there!

[GhostDakota]

Could you tell my shock?! ahah.. I think I said it 3 times at least!

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

As someone who uses breathing protection on a regular basis, I just wanted to let you know that the gas mask isn't going to stop the really nasty stuff in that smoke.

It's an NBC canister. It stops more than not wearing a mask I'll bring either my SCUBA or SCBA gear next time and pose for a shot haha.

Here is a "drive around" video of the town. You can see one of the remaining houses, and the rest is .. well, just empty streets.

The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbhowg8346s

[The_Bishop]

Yeah, I know it's an NBC canister; we have them too. (Fire department). Won't stop carbon monoxide, or any of the other nasty stuff an underground fire will release. SCBA is a far better choice if you *have* to stand in the smoke.

[GhostDakota]

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

Yeah, I know it's an NBC canister; we have them too. (Fire department). Won't stop carbon monoxide, or any of the other nasty stuff an underground fire will release. SCBA is a far better choice if you *have* to stand in the smoke.

Haha, I'm a former wacker and current SCUBA diver, so next time I'll try to bring some gear if I remember. I did it for the photos, but also because the area stinks like sulfur. I'd rather just not smell it.

[The_Bishop]

Looked cool. I don't have a Jeep, but I do have a quad cab Colorado with the Z71 package. If I wasn't so far north I might be tempted to join you on one of those trips.

[GhostDakota]

One of my winter trips: http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/S...176050&k=3NEFa

Photo examples from the album above:




As you can see, it gets hot enough in winter as well to prevent snow accumulation.

[GhostDakota]

For those interested, I just found this today. These are the current fire fronts - this is thermal infrared imagery:





http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...66516211001510

[Pampered-Z]

I live about 15 miles from there, in Numida just over the mountain. It has been odd over the years watching houses and buildings drop into the ground as the fires consumed the ground below and roads had to be built around those sink holes.

The goverment bought out and moved most of the people from the town years ago but there are those few that wanted to remained. No idea why.

[GhostDakota]

Supposedly it's the whole "I was born here, raised here, and I'll die here" from what I've seen & read.

Here are some fire photos I found at the surface. THIS is what I have been looking for in Centralia. It seems like these are old photos and I have yet to find any surface fire in the past 6 years.

This set of images were taken by Steve McGinley:










I've been to this area myself and unfortunately it seems like the surface fire has returned to the depths below... As you can see, my photos aren't nearly as interesting:

[townsend]

i went there alot when i was 16-21, almost twice a month. i have alot of pictures on a bad hd that i wanna try to get off now. last time i was there, there were two news vans with reporters and some military kicking a few people out of the houses just below the cemetery on the hill (just up from the end of the old highway were everyone parks and walks down). i took alot of photos of the fissures in the cemetery where that crazy colored algae and such. i almost fell into a sinkhole that was forming one time too.