Centralia, Pennsylvania · 1962
The town that has been on fire since 1962
In 1962 Centralia burned its dump and the fire reached the coal below. Congress set aside $42 million to move everyone out. Five people still live there.
What is said in this reel
In 1962, Centralia burned its town dump. The fire reached the coal underneath and never went out. In 1981, the ground opened under a 12-year-old. Congress set aside 42 million to move everyone out. Five people still live here.
Credits and sources
- Opening scene: AI-generated recreation (dramatization)
- Mine fire, 1969: U.S. Bureau of Mines (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
- Coal-fire steam vent: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Centralia aerial, 1971: U.S. government photograph (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
- Steam over Centralia, December 2006: Scott Drzyzga, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Narration: AI-generated voice.
