December 2007---it's been almost three years since I have seen a mine fire! Fire!! FIRE!!!! (Um, heh-heh. Sorry about that.) I find that AMAZING. (. . .) Anyway, the Elsevier mine fire atlas people (That is, the peeps writing "Coal Combustion and Wild Coal Fires Atlas of the World" (Stracher, Glenn B., Sokol, Ellina, Prakash, Anupma)---proposal accepted by Elsevier Publishing. This is the first document of its kind in the entire world. (!!)) wanted me to get some pictures of [American] East Coast mine fires for them. So, off my Dad and I went---covering over 2,000 miles (!!!!)--in five days. Thus, the "Whirlwind Mine Fire Tour [of] 2007." -Enjoy. :) :)
First stop, Centralia
Two mine fires in one day:
I've been through the desert on a Mine Fire with No Name. It felt good to be out of the rain. . . . (No pics.)
And finally, New Straightsville---the oldest mine fire! Fire!! FIRE!!!! (Um, heh-heh. Sorry about that.) ( ;) ) in North America; in fact, [it is] the longest burning conflagration (of any sort) [in North America, 'n stuff]. (!)
Wow. (WHOOMP!) There it is. -As I mentioned (above)---over 2,000 (!!!!) miles, in five days. :P :P It was fun---but I'm just as glad that it is over. :P For the first time in my life, I think I may well be "mine fired out." :P ( :) ;) ) Special thanks to Robert Mack (Laurel Run), James Grant (Baldwin Borough), Matt Miller (New Straightsville), Mike Steimans (watershed co-ordinator) (New Straightsville), and Little Cities of Black Diamond (Shawnee).