Nature Returns to Centralia After 60 Years of Burning Coal Fire
January 28, 2026
Centralia, Pennsylvania, has been burning underground coal for over 60 years, forcing most residents to leave. The coal fire started in 1962 from a landfill trash fire. It spread uncontrollably, releasing toxic gases and causing the ground to collapse. By the 1990s, the town was mostly empty and many buildings were torn down. The fire is still burning beneath the town, making it unsafe to live there. Yet, nature is seeing a surprising comeback. Where houses and streets once were, grasses, wildflowers, and young trees have grown. Insects, birds, and small animals are now common. This natural revival happened because human activity stopped completely. Steam still rises from cracks after rain, showing the fire's presence remains. Centralia is not being rebuilt, and only a few residents remain by exception. The town is now a quiet example of how nature can return when people leave, even from places damaged by disaster. This story shows that life finds a way, even in abandoned lands once thought lost.
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Tags:
Centralia
Coal Fire
Ghost Town
Nature Recovery
Abandoned Town
Pennsylvania
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