The Real Silent Hill (Centralia, PA) - Underground Mine Fire Burning for 40 Years

[GhostDakota]

So this has was my third trip to the town of Centralia, PA. For those who don't know, the town has a mine fire that's been burning for more than 40 years. The town is located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Region. This coal is the longest burning, most sought after coal in the world. The fire was said to have begun when a fire in the town dump jumped to an exposed coal vein. The rest is all history. More info here (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCentral ia%2C_Pennsylvania&ei=wtEESd_2BZXwvAWt2PnnDQ&usg=AFQjCNF__Cq1n2TwxL9iWCLdZrIWFwj_8A&sig2=t2K9hD2p0wZr1B-_bB8Wxg) & here (http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia.htm).

My friend Sharon rode along with me. My buddy/co-worker Tim and his g/f took his Jeep. You'll prob. recognize his Jeep a little bit as it's from the Fall '08 Quadratec Cherokee catalog. He's removed some of the parts, though.

The weather as 62* with heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and wind gusts in excess of 30 MPH. It made for some hard shots. I did have plastic rain protection for the camera, so that was a plus. I did take a few HDR's, without a tripod, as well as "normal" photos. No PP aside from Photomatix on the HDR's.

Nikon D70s, kit 18-70:

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402526767_YmKeZ-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402528089_fkYGe-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402529029_fUdmG-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402531571_Nn6QJ-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402532488_ksLNk-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402533349_mMosf-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402534975_qaqzD-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402526618_v2Xj8-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402526483_ijWfh-XL.jpg


HDR's:
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402525315_MNjrw-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402538053_CbX63-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402538731_jxfxD-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402538401_eX8Ai-XL.jpg

http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/402525044_EBztD-XL.jpg

I'll be investigating another area of Centralia in December. I can't wait!

[crazyjim]

Wow... nice.

[Crabapple]

Do you have any of the last shots in high res? Very nice.

[redneckboarder]

maybe ill have 4wd for this next trip lol, it woulda been nice last time

[GhostDakota]

Thanks guys :)

Crab: I am a photographer so I do have them available but I sell them. If you want to talk price, let me know.

Jon: Well it'll be NICE to have 4WD then as I am sure it'll be snowing like piss again in late December when we go back. I can't even believe we DROVE in that blizzard thing last time, man. It was fun and all but kinda scary with 1000 foot drops right off the snow covered, windy highway!

[Hammered]

Creepy church. Nice Halloweenie place.

[Rod Knee]

A jeepin' destination in my part of the country related to this thread.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/natareas/burncoal.htm

[BIGSLVRXJ]

The scary part is that looks shockingly similar to the video game bearing the same name (I assume that's why you titled the thread that)...watch out for zombies next time you're there. Great pictures though.

[GhostDakota]

Yep. The town in the video game/movie is based off of the town of Centralia, PA. And I wasn't aware of the similarity between the churches, but now that that's been said, I see it!

[Blkxjkrawler]

Thats cool stuff man, I showed my wife the pic of the church and she put it together right away without even hearing the story. I love poking around in old creepy places like that.
-Ryan

[GhostDakota]

Thanks :-D Some additional info:

"Writer Roger Avary had said that as a boy, his father, who was a mining engineer, used to tell him stories about the town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, United States where coal deposits from the local mine caught fire and released toxic gases into the town, as well as creating sinkholes when the abandoned mineshafts and coal seams began to collapse. This forced the majority of inhabitants to evacuate forever. Avary was fascinated since childhood by the idea that fires underneath the town would be burning for such a long time and the story of Centralia was used as the basis for the township of Silent Hill.[4] When the script was finished, a studio memo was sent to Gans and Avary that voiced concerns about the lack of a male presence in the film, since the original story contained a nearly all female cast. Gans and Avary added Christopher's character (named after Gans) and subplot and the script was approved."

&

"The 'real' Silent Hill
Main article: Centralia, Pennsylvania

Writer Roger Avary states about Silent Hill that "the base idea was that this is not a haunted house, it's a haunted town, y'know, separate from our reality, but it also exists within our reality. So you effectively become a ghost during your time there. And it's a very terrifying emotion, that you are a ghost of yourself. Frankly I think it's a theme that's followed me."'

In researching the different elements of Silent Hill, screen writer Roger Avary was inspired when he heard of Centralia, Pennsylvania, and decided to base the film on it. The population of the town has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 12 in 2005[25] and 9 in 2007,[26] as a result of a 46-year-old mine fire burning beneath the borough.

In 1962, an exposed vein of coal ignited, due to the standard policy of burning the garbage on a weekly basis in the borough landfill. Attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, and it continued to burn throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Adverse health effects were reported by several people due to the carbon monoxide produced.

In 1984, Congress allocated more than $42 million for relocation efforts. Most of the residents accepted buyout offers and moved. Today a handful of occupied homes remain in Centralia. Most of the buildings have been razed, and at casual glance the area now appears to be a meadow with several paved streets through it, and some areas are being filled with new-growth forest."

[Ba-Riedo]

Awesome shots, I would love to visit there.

-Alex

[pb_beaker]

Very interesting, did not know you could have a fire underground for that long.

[GhostDakota]

From what is known about Anthracite Coal and the estimated amount of deposits left below the surface, the fire could burn for another 150-500+ years. They really don't know for sure. It's crazy.

[WaXJ_Skier]

Awesome shots, I would love to visit there.

-Alex

So lets plan a trip Ive been wanting to go for over a year.

[redneckboarder]

oh man i forgot about the blizzard where i almost spun out while angie and ashlee were sleeping.

[GhostDakota]

I'll be going back on December 14th. MARK your calendars. It's a Sunday. I'm also going back in late December/Early Jan when Jon (redneckboarder) is back in town from NH.

Oh.. BTW.. my gas masks showed up! :)

Main one (Israeli):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/408673506_ze222-L.jpg

Backup / for any female friend of mine (Finnish):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/408673022_s49iy-L.jpg

Schweet.

[bigalpha]

You worried about noxious gasses?

[WaXJ_Skier]

You worried about noxious gasses?

I doubt it but if his he convinces his girlfriend it's a danger and they wear them he can pass gas in the jeep without her knowing.:passgas:

[redneckboarder]

i wore one for giggles last time we were there and it didnt stink...i took it off and there was a noticeable difference in smell, plus it looked badass haha

[Hellbent]

man, that's somewhere i've wanted to go for years. that's one of the most insane things i've ever read about.

[ehall]

Backup / for any female friend of mine (Finnish):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/408673022_s49iy-L.jpg
damn they must have big noses in Finland

[GhostDakota]

Short list of gases in Centralia:
-Carbon Monoxide
-Sulfuric Acid
-Sulfur Dioxide

And as Jon mentioned, the removal of the horrible rotten eggs/bad cat piss smell.

Photos (not mine):
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2395/2298524783_f59b5bcf53.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2298525957_7a88d9b262.jpg

http://offroaders.com/album/centralia/Lawless-Reese/sign-on-southern-side-of-detoured-61.JPG

[ibjeepin821]

Hey im from west chester pa and always wanted to go up there. any places to camp around there?? is it even worth making it an over night trip?

[ibjeepin821]

I have a gask mask too can I join the club?

[GhostDakota]

I'm sure there are many places to camp in that area. There's a few Parks within 20-30 mins. IMO it's only worth staying for the weekend IF it's summer. Go up on a Fri after work, set up your camping gear, chill, Saturday morning take cruise around Centralia, do a little wheeling, then go to Knoebels afterwards for the night. It's a fun as heck experience.

http://www.knoebels.com/

Yes, you can join the gas mask club...

Here's Jon from last year (I think this is his military issued mask?):
http://pafirefighter11.smugmug.com/photos/233182619_q5pGd-XL.jpg

[ibjeepin821]

I have been to knobels before and it is a ton of fun. I will be back when it starts getting warmer so that should work out good. looks like a military mask...they all do the same thing i guess. anyway thanks for the advice on when to go. I think I have seen your xj around town also.