Fire started in 1962 still burns...

rockyridgefarm · Dec 8, 2009

Hey all,

Check this out - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/12/underground-coal-fire-centralia-started-1962-burns.php

Seems a fire started by firefighters in Centralia PA to clean up a city dump in a mined coal seam spread to the coal and burns to this day. Says it may burn for another 100 years.

big fred · Dec 8, 2009

There's a lignite vein in Theodore Roosevelt Natl Park that is said to have been burning since before the first white fur traders arrived in the region. That would be well over 150 years ago. The lignite veins in that part of North Dakota are near the surface and are ignited by lightning or grass fires, then spread underground where they smoulder for years.

thurlow · Dec 8, 2009

I know about one that started in August of 1963; that's when I had the first date with a gorgeous 16-year black-headed, brown eyed girl; married her 3 years later and the fire still burns bright............

Chad Franke · Dec 8, 2009

Lots of them in Colorado too, one burst through the surface a few years ago and lit the trees on fire, causing a big forest fire.

http://www.rmiia.org/News_room/catastrophe%20news/2002_06_14_Coal_Seam.htm

Dang near impossible to put out, only way is to seal up ALL air holes...could be spread over miles and miles...

rockyridgefarm · Dec 8, 2009

Hey Thurlow,
Man, I hope the fire I started with my wife in 2002 lasts that long

Sam#3 · Dec 8, 2009

When the water from the thawed icecaps reaches the tunnel it'll go out. Then the world will start to cool.

fixerupper · Dec 8, 2009

We don't have any coal in this part of Iowa, but I've heard of peat ground burning back in the days when farmers used to burn corn stalks. It'd burn all winter until the spring rains made the ground wet enough to snuff it out. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Dec 8, 2009

Well, after reading all this I'm beginning to understand this global warming thing.

Phil in Pa · Dec 8, 2009

This was on the national news back in the early eighties. I live about 30 miles away.

Rollie NE PA · Dec 8, 2009

Hi Phil, Just wondering where your located. I live in the Back Mtn area of Luzerne County.
Rollie

Phil in Pa · Dec 8, 2009

Southern Northumberland county, about fifteen miles south of Shamokin in the country.

Jon Hagen · Dec 8, 2009

In North Dakota we have lignite coal that is in places very shallow, with seams all the way to the surface. Google "burning coal mines, North Dakota" coal seams lit at the surface by lightning or prairie fires burn underground.
They had been burning for a long time when Lewis & Clark came through the area 200 years ago and are still burning.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 9, 2009

Must have a very special lady for the fire to still be burning 62 years later. LoL Dave

Polish Mike · Dec 9, 2009

Centralia used to be a nice little town. Been just a ghost town for quite a while now. Pretty disturbing to see a thriving little community disappear like that, in such a relatively short period of time. I used to live in Shamokin, just a short drive away.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 9, 2009

It will, with frequent stoking.

Fire started in 1962 still burns...

rockyridgefarm

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big fred

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thurlow

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Chad Franke

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rockyridgefarm

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Sam#3

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fixerupper

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Anonymous-0

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Phil in Pa

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Rollie NE PA

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Phil in Pa

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Jon Hagen

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Anonymous-0

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Polish Mike

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