AI Overview
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The Centralia mine fire, located in Pennsylvania, has been burning continuously since 1962. It began when a landfill fire spread to a mine shaft. The fire is still burning beneath the abandoned town of Centralia, and it's estimated to continue burning for another 250 years.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Origin:
The fire started in May 1962 when a landfill fire ignited a mine shaft.
Ongoing fire:
The fire has been burning continuously beneath the town of Centralia ever since.
Cause:
The fire is thought to have started as a controlled burn of trash in an abandoned strip pit, but it spread to underground mines.
Consequences:
The fire has led to the abandonment of Centralia, which once had a population of 1,000 but now has only a few residents.
Extinguishment:
It's estimated that the fire will continue burning for another 250 years. Engineers have suggested that the only way to extinguish the fire would be to dig up the entire 3,000 acres of coal beneath the town, which would cost about $600 million.
