Deep beneath the streets of Centralia, a fire has been burning continuously since 1962. Once home to more than 1,000 residents, Centralia was a thriving coal-mining town with neighborhoods, churches, schools, and local businesses. But after a fire ignited in an abandoned coal mine—most likely during a landfill burn that spread into underground mine tunnels—it began creeping through vast seams of coal beneath the community.

For years, state and local authorities tried to extinguish the blaze by excavating burning areas, flooding tunnels, and sealing off sections of the mine. None of the efforts succeeded. The fire continued spreading underground, releasing carbon monoxide and other hazardous gases, creating unstable ground, and causing dangerous sinkholes to appear unexpectedly. One of the most alarming incidents occurred in 1981, when a 12-year-old boy narrowly escaped after a sinkhole suddenly opened beneath him in his backyard, highlighting just how dangerous conditions had become.

As the underground fire intensified, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concluded that the town could no longer be safely inhabited. During the 1980s and 1990s, most residents accepted government buyouts and relocated. Nearly every home and business was demolished, leaving behind only a handful of occupied properties and empty streets where entire neighborhoods once stood.

Scientists estimate that the fire could continue burning for another 200 years—or even longer because of the vast coal deposits that remain underground. The exact path of the fire is continuously monitored, but completely extinguishing it is considered impractical with current technology. Although only a few residents remain today, Centralia has become one of America’s most famous ghost towns.