The 2009 film Sinkhole was filmed mostly in Centralia. But not Silent Hill.The town was also the inspiration for the 1991 cult film Nothing But Trouble, written by Dan Aykroyd.   See 2 other replies

Martin "inaction" doesn't apply here. The government not only tried to stop the fire, but purchased all the homes from these people to relocate them when that attempt failed. That sounds like action to me. The $42 buyout might not have been what everyone wanted, but it was the only sensible thing to do at that point. Both of these transpired long before the 40 year mark as well. The fact this fire has been left to burn all these years should give you an idea of just how expensive and dangerous it would be to extinguish it.Some further reading on this town indicates the towns people themselves didn't know the full scope of the fire until the late 70's. The government was quick to arrive when the young boy almost died, but by then the fire was just too big and relocating was the only sensible option left.   See 11 other replies

"Why is it always the governments responsibility!?"Because Paul, the federal government has resources that smaller communities don't have. We pay taxes to have these resources available to us if and when we need them. If it were as simple as volunteering I believe these miners would have jumped at the chance to save their jobs and homes. I know I would have.   See 11 other replies

"The fire could have been stopped for $1000 bucks in 1962."That was an old man's speculation, I think if $1000 was the only thing standing in the way of putting this fire out the towns people could have come up with it. The government didn't stop them for doing anything."They faught and pleaded for help that never came." (the word is fought) "NEVER CAME"?? The government bought there homes, property the government knew was worthless and couldn't be resold. The gave money to these people for worthless land after they made an attempt to put the fire out.   See 11 other replies

"Since 1962 they lied to the people of Centralia. They would tell them they were making plans to stop the fire when in reality they cared little to none for it."Wrong Scott. The Government didn't lie to anyone. They made at least one attempt to dig the trench, but it failed. They told everybody they may have waited too late and that the cost of moving the town was a fraction of what it would cost to try and put this now much larger fire out. There's also no guarantee they could have stopped it had they made another attempt so it made much more sense to relocate the town. According to the two older men sitting at the bar, the people who moved away moved into nicer homes than they had in town, plus the government paid for the moving expenses. It's a little sad this town had to die, but the towns people are the ones who started the fire to begin with. Maybe they should have moved the garbage pit instead of burning it every year. You would think a town full of miners would have considered the coal catching on fire.   See 11 other replies

They, I don't know who 'they' (the responsible people other then Pagnotti Coal Company) would be, just continue to let it burn.   See 3 other replies

I'm not sure anyone will ever be able to claim the coal from the mines in Centrailia. I grew up in this area of Pennsylvania. My generation actually and unfortunately got to see the very sad (near) end of the town other than the gentleman in the video who remained there. I watch the roads accessing and through Centrailia get closed or destroyed. Friends and I used to drive them for something to do. It was like watching death in slow motion. Horrible! I worked for a coal company who had property adjacent to Pagnotti (the company that owned and operated the mine that caught fie), who probably still continues to mine the minable areas still left there today. The saddest part, I think, is that if they would have dug the trenches far enough ahead of the under ground fire they probably could have saved a beautiful, thriving, town as well as valuable resources, jobs, etc. It would not have taken an army of equipment or workers to do it either. Of which all of the equipment needed to do it, when I worked in the area, wasn't but a mile or two away. THAT is the worst part.   See 3 other replies