BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire Paperback - 2009

by David Dekok

Add to wish list

Reader reviews for Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire

From the publisher

How a modern-day mine disaster has turned a Pennsylvania community into a ghost town

*

For much of its history, Centralia, Pennsylvania, had a population of around 2,000. By 1981, this had dwindled to just over 1,000-not unusual for a onetime mining town. But as of 2007, Centralia had the unwelcome distinction of being the state's tiniest municipality, with a population of nine. The reason: an underground fire that began in 1962 has decimated the town with smoke and toxic gases, and has since made history.

Fire Underground is the completely updated classic account of the fire that has been raging under Centralia for decades. David DeKok tells the story of how the fire actually began and how government officials failed to take effective action. By 1981 the fire was spewing deadly gases into homes. A twelve-year-old boy dropped into a steaming hole as a congressman toured nearby. DeKok describes how the people of Centralia banded together to finally win relocation funds-and he reveals what has happened to the few remaining residents as the fiftieth anniversary of the fire's beginning nears.

From the rear cover

Centralia, Pennsylvania, lived and died by anthracite coal. The town's population peaked at 2,761 in 1890, but by 1981 had dwindled to just over 1,000--not unusual for a Pennsylvania mining town. But today Centralia has no more than a dozen inhabitants, and they are expected to be gone before long. The reason: an underground fire that has burned since 1962 in the labyrinth of abandoned coal mines beneath Centralia, making parts of the town uninhabitable.By 1981 the fire was sending deadly gases into homes, making children sick, and one day a twelve-year-old boy dropped into a steaming hole and almost died as a U.S. congressman toured nearby. David DeKok describes how the fire began and how the majority of Centralia residents fought for and finally obtained relocation from the town, even as some of their neighbors claimed there was no threat. He reveals what happened to the few remaining diehards as the fiftieth anniversary of the fire's beginning nears.

Details

  • Title Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire
  • Author David Dekok
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Revised edition
  • Pages 312
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CN
  • Publication date 2009-10-01
  • Features Bibliography, Index, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780762754274 / 0762754273
  • Weight 0.85 lbs (0.39 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 in (22.61 x 14.99 x 2.29 cm)
  • Themes
    • Chronological Period: 1960's
    • Chronological Period: 21st Century
    • Chronological Period: 1950-1999
    • Cultural Region: Mid-Atlantic
    • Geographic Orientation: Pennsylvania
  • Category History - U.S.
  • Library of Congress subjects Centralia (Pa.) - History, Mine fires - Pennsylvania - Centralia
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2009026061
  • Dewey Decimal Code 363.379

Media reviews

Citations

  • Reference and Research Bk News, 05/01/2010, Page 287

About the author

DeKok is a journalist who has been covering the Anthracite region of Pennsylvania since the late 1970s

More Copies for Sale

Fire Underground
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground

by Dekok, David

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$2.27
A$4.34 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
GPQ-Globe Pequot. Used - Good. A sound copy with only light wear. Overall a solid copy at a great price!
Add to wish list
Item price
A$2.27
A$4.34 Delivery to USA
Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire

Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire

by David DeKok

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
5
Seller
Item price
A$9.56
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Globe Pequot Press, The, 2009. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.56
Free Delivery to USA
Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire

Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire

by David DeKok

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$9.56
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Globe Pequot Press, The, 2009. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.56
Free Delivery to USA
Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire

by Dekok, David

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Edition
Revised
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$13.55
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Globe Pequot Press, 2009-10-01. Revised. paperback. Used: Good. 6.00x0.50x9.00. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$13.55
Free Delivery to USA
Fire Underground
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground

by Dekok, David

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$18.32
A$7.21 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
GPQ-Globe Pequot, 10/1/2009 12:00:01 A. paperback. Very Good. 0.7874 8.9764 5.9055.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$18.32
A$7.21 Delivery to USA
Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire

by Dekok, David

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$19.76
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc. Used - Very Good. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$19.76
Free Delivery to USA
Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground : The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire

by Dekok, David

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
2
Seller
Item price
A$19.76
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$19.76
Free Delivery to USA
Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire

by David Dekok

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$20.22
A$7.23 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Globe Pequot, October 2009. Trade Paperback . Used.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$20.22
A$7.23 Delivery to USA
Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire

by Dekok, David

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$23.25
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Globe Pequot. paperback. Good. 9.5X6.5X1.5. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$23.25
Free Delivery to USA
Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire
Stock photo: cover may vary

Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy Of The Centralia Mine Fire

by Dekok, David

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Edition
Revised
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780762754274 / 0762754273
Quantity available
6
Seller
Item price
A$27.32
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Globe Pequot Press, 2009-10-01. Revised. paperback. New. 6.00x0.50x9.00. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$27.32
Free Delivery to USA