This one was kind of . . . special.  Although information abounds about the Percy Fire (cf. http://www.penweb.org/issues/mining/tribrev/swfires.html and http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/study/ESL201Paper.htm), when we (my dad and I) asked residents about the fire and its location, they told us that they had no idea what we were talking about.  Both of us (independently) had the distinct impression that these people were deliberately lying to us.

   At first, we couldn't imagine why, then my dad suggested an old truism: Look to the dollar.  -Apparently, the peeps in Youngstown won't even _talk_ about the fire! Fire!! FIRE!!!! (Um, heh-heh.  Heh. Heh.  -Sorry about that. :) )--because they believe that knowledge of it would greatly decrease their property values.  -They're probably right--but it will still quite a turnaround from the bend-over-backward friendliness that I have never failed to receive from the denizens of Centralia.

   Youngstown has been under the wrath of the Percy Fire for over 30 years.  There are presently more that 60 homes resting atop the blaze.  Beyond the concerns of "falling property" values (pun intended! :) ), there are also concerns that subsidence could shift natural gas lines--causing an explosion.  :O

   It is estimated that putting out the Percy Fire would cost between $30 to $40 million dollars.  So far, the federal government has spent $2.4 million to excavate seven acres of land, extinguish part of the fire, and install an underground clay barrier between the remaining fire and the community's houses.  -That was 15 years ago.  Now, the fire is burning around the barrier (mine fire! Fire!! FIRE!!!!'s (Heh-heh.  -Sorry about that.  :) ) are rather insidious), and another $2 million is being spent in an attempt to encircle the fire underground.  (Glover, 1998).  -Experience tells me (and others) that this most probably will not work; it may (significantly) slow the blaze, but not put it out.  Within a few scant years, the unfriendly denizens of Youngstown may find themselves residing in an area not terribly unlike present-day Centralia.

Well, I guess that is about it.  Although hardly being the end of the story (There are at least 45 underground fires presently burning in PA--and approximately 1/3 of the nation's total mine problems (Glover, 1998).), that is all I have to say, for now.  I hope you have enjoyed my little tour.  Party hearty and God bless, John.

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