# Keep the coal fires burning...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-the-coal-fires-burning/343390>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 7, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-the-coal-fires-burning/343390 "2006-02-07T15:23:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-the-coal-fires-burning/343390/1 "2006-02-07T15:23:17Z")

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While my heart is yearning…

How many coal fires are burning in coal veins in the U.S.? Worldwide? What startes them? Lightning? Some other natural process? How long to they burn? I’ve heard for years.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-the-coal-fires-burning/343390/2 "2006-02-07T15:27:52Z")

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There is a well-know coal fire in [Centralia, PA](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/PACENmine.html) that has been burning since 1961. People spent over two decades trying to put it out but failed. There is no known way to get it out and it may burn for centuries.