Centralia is a ghost town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. In the 1960's, the community of about 1,500 people was supported by a seam of coal running beneath the town. In 1962, a fire lit in the town dump ended up spreading beneath the entire valley, fueled by the coal. However, it wasn’t until 1979 that the extent of the damage became clear. A gas station owner in Centralia measured the temperature of the gas in his underground tanks to be in excess of 100° higher than normal. The reality of the danger was emphasized when a 150-foot deep sinkhole opened up beneath a town boy. Over the following years, the Centralia underground fires continued to burn, increasing toxic gases such as carbon monoxide to dangerous levels. By 2012, there were only 10 people left in Centralia.
It is said that smoke from the fire can still sometimes be seen rising from the ground.
