Oh wow, I had no idea this was here, can't wait to watch it! I'm originally from Shamokin so I'm very familiar with Centralia. I moved to Wilkes-Barre for college and now I live in the Clarks Summit/Dalton area so your videos are spot on for me! So glad I recently found your channel!
I wasn't aware of this particular mine fire 🔥 but am amazed that the fire 🔥 was declared put out when it is clearly still burning 🔥 Amazing video JP 👍 Thanks so much for taking us all along with you on this adventure!
I've known about the Laurel Run mine fire for a while now. Though I knew about Centralia for way longer. As for the movie(s) kinda based on Centralia (i.e. Silent Hill) they were not exactly what I would call good movies. By the way, have you ever considered checking out the former neighborhoods in Taylor, PA on Oak Street? The old homes that were there were demolished due to mining issues I believe (like my own neighborhood) and the lots are only now being redeveloped. As recently as the late 80's there was still an old house on the right at the bottom of the hill where they're building condos there now. The left side of the street has yet to be redeveloped. Unfortunately I think most (if not all) of the properties are posted, so you'd have to fly the drone to check for remnants of the old houses.
@@CheapestGamer explored that area years ago and not much left to see. Today, practically everything is gone and posted like you said. Wish I had a camera back when the moffat coal breaker and all the equipment was still back there.
Interesting to read here on line how few people seem to be aware of Laurel Run. My wife was raised from birth in Laurel Run, lived there until she was 14 yrs old, when the federal government forced her family to move. A very, traumatic experience, particularly since her father, a retired miner with black lung disease died right after they were told they must get out. She watched this video with me. We carefully studied each frame looking at familiar things. Many memories, both good and bad, but all very distinct and emotional. Basement doors had to be left open for government inspectors who would come around regularly to check for carbon monoxide, the reason they were forced to move. She lived at the actual starting point of the Giant's Despair Hill Climb. Her home can be seen on many, of the old pics of the climb. Today, you can't see anything there, not even the train tracks which have also been removed. You might have parked across the street from where her house stood.
It’s just amazing that an underground fire could burn for over a century…enough fuel underground to have heated Pennsylvania and surrounding states for so many years! We are literally sitting on a wealth of natural resources here in Pennsylvania! 🔥
To bad that the government wants to do away with fossil fuel which is a bunch of bull you can't just stop using fossil fuel ,everything run on ,or get heated by this fuel
107 years is nothing. Brennender Berg in Saarland, Germany, has been burning since 1668, and Burning Mountain in New South Wales, Australia was going when Europeans arrived and is believed to have been burning for 6,000 years.
Grew up very near here and actually Laurel Run borough still exists. On top of the mountain is where the borough building and fire hall are. Also as you go up the Giant , East Northampton St. Or the old Easton Turnpike as it was also called, you will see a stone marker where soldiers from Sullivan's March were killed during the Revolutionary War.
I'm 70 & was born & raised in Allegheny County, where pretty much every area is undermined. When we were kids, we used to play inside old mines that weren't closed up properly. 🤦🏻♀ I never heard of Centralia until I was let loose on the internet when I got a PC 12 years ago. This is the first I've heard of Laurel Run. I love learning something new every day. 🥰 Thanks for an interesting & entertaining video. 😘 I caught a few videos when you were visiting the Pgh area. I hope you enjoyed yourself here & found the people open & friendly (Pgh has been on the top of the list of friendliest people in a medium size city). 😊
@@AnthraciteHorrorStories For the most part, we would only go in as far as the large entrance room. We were dumb but not stupid. 🤭 One time, we tided a rope around one of my older brother's waist & he went in approx 25 feet beyond the entrance room with a flashlight. He slipped & fell into the mine water on the floor. He hurried out because of huge rats & bats. No one ever went in any farther as far as I know. A couple of years later, they finally got around to sealing the three entrances up. The mine openings were in the woods & the boro wanted to develop the land but they never did.
For all the hundreds of times in the 80s and 90s I drove up and down Giants Despair I never knew this was here right off the side of Laurel Run Rd - my family had mentioned "the old town of Laurel Run" (my great grandparents lived in Ashley) but no one ever mentioned ongoing mine fire or anything - whereas Centralia constantly made the news all throughout the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s as people were moved out and the town relocated. Fascinating!
Back in the 80s I participated in the Giants Despair Hillclimb and never knew about the fire. Will note that the spectators at what is known as the Devil's Elbow weren't always well behaved, and would sometimes affect the drivers with their shenanigans. Possibly due to smoke inhalation causing their behavior?
Awesome video JP! I thought it was going to be about Centralia, but it's great to learn there's actually another abandoned town! Thanks for sharing this with us! Very interesting! I remember one here in Kentucky years ago, they made a big cut through the mountain so it couldn't burn any further, my dad was a bulldozer operator and helped to try and stop it! I think its been burning for over 50 years now! It's just north of Hazard Ky. Awesome video! Great footage! Loved the replacement car!🤣
Great video! Awesome to see that area again. Back in the late 1990s early 2000s, we use to go dirt biking up Laurel Run. As a teenager in the early 90s, there were movie theaters in the Wyoming Valley Mall and one was outside of the mall across from the Lowes/Olive Garden entrance from Mundy St. Rumor was the floor was hot due to the mine fires. We would go to the movies there in high school, never experienced the hot floor lol. I need to get back up to Laurel Run and Centralia again. Great videos! Keep up the great work
Grew up in North Jersey (born ‘78), and spent quite a bit of time around the Poconos, on out to Lebanon or so. Heard about Centralia about 2000 or so, and went there once. Never had heard of Laurel Run until this video. And I love learning as much as local history and folklore as possible Moved to FL in ‘02 and have been learning about down here ever since.
Really enjoyed this video. I wonder if the difference between the two fires is that Centralia was completely within the age of television and so the images caught people's attention. This fire was getting going with WW I and the Spanish Flu being top of the news. By the time television came along, this was old news. The fifty year old fire isn't as big of a story as the new mine fire.
I have family in Shamokin which is a few miles away from Centralia. Been traveling through there since I was a baby. Literally watched the town disappear over the last 40 years. Interesting that there are more underground fires in Pa that aren’t really known about. Thx!
Here in Germany, if one is interested, he may come across some documentaries about Centralia on TV. Had the impression, Centralia was the only one, Sorry. You see, your channel even educates good old Europe 😉Greetings from Bavaria and keep continuing your good work
I'm from the uk, and only vaguely familiar with the concept of a mine fire. I think the first time I heard of it I thought shit that would be a disaster, but didn't know any were actually burning in the world. Kinda fascinating.
I live 10 minutes from there. When I was a kid, I used to ride my dirt bikes there all the time. Those water tanks were made out of wood originally. At one time the steam was coming out right on the road. It just keeps moving along to different spots. It may never go out.
There used to be a place where you can see the open mine burning in the sixties in this area but that may have bull dozed thanks JP and RJ awesome video ex
In 1985. I was driving to Philadelphia from Watson town Pa. And as I was going through Centralia, I went straight through at the stop sign there was a conversion van behind me. Half way down the hill, I felt a bump under the back of my car and I looked behind me just in time to see the van drop front first into a hole. There was nothing I could do but get the heck out of there. May God have mercy on their souls.
Great video. It brought back many memories. My dad was born and raised in Laurel Run. Every day he took me and my sister to my grandfather's house. That was in the late 50's. It was common to see the steam coming out of the crevices. I knew the story of the mine fire since i was little. We walked those woods daily, being careful where we stepped. I just had my little granddaughter up there 2 days ago. You did a great job .
Grew up in Pittsburgh and remember taking a field trip to the mine bureau in Oakland, where they talked about Laurel Run and Centrala Fires, and several local mine collapes. This was back in the 70s
JP. I hope you're being extra cautious out there. Toxic gasses come from those mine fires. I think it's safe to say, if it's burning those gasses are present.
Sad to think there was a town here .....but its all gone .....roads to no where now. The drone Footage was amazing !! And I really liked the pictures of the town from the past that was really something !! Great video as always !! 👍👍
There is also one that has been burning in Colorado near Glenwood springs, that my dad would tell us about, He lived there, I think since the mid to late 1920's
This was awesome video. Been to Centralia. This horrible that they don't teach this stuff in history. We home school our son. We take him to alot of stuff to see that was never taught him. Keep up the great work bud!!!!
I've heard of both fires years ago, but I cannot date it any further back than the 1990s. I'm a railfan and model railroader with an interest in the roads that hauled Anthracite coal, so the mine fires came up in the history of the mines.
I had heard of the Centralia mine fire, but did not know about all the other underground fires. Being coal I could imagine it to burn 100’s of years. Because of all seams of coal underground. Thanks for the information!
Never heard of this place, before. About 15 years ago, I had the opportunity to wander through the long-gone town of Centralia with the former postmaster of the town. He filled me in on the background of the area, but we never discussed Laurel Run.
I actually knew of this mine fire in Laurel Run, BEFORE I knew of the one in Centralia, I'm from Mountain Top, and I've actually walked around up there years ago.
Thank you for introducing us to this amazing place!! It’s not Centralia, but it’s super cool anyway!! Thank you RJ and JP for doing the dirty work!! 👍♥️♥️
Very aware of the fire, lived next to the Kmart a few miles away. Never knew that those living in Georgetown may have been evacuated and homes demolished. There was a CNJ rail line next or very close to the LCTA bus stop. I remember it in the 70s. Did some research said there was a very bad train crash I believe in 65. Was very young don't remember. Fantastic footage and narration, great job, enjoyed much.
I've been there once in the early 2010s. I discovered it while researching Centralia and other mine fires. It's really interesting. There's also a finger of fire that passed under the interstate at one time and there signs in the area along the interstate to be aware of fog (smoke) from the fire. I find mine fires fascinating and I found it more interesting than Centralia even. I've also visited the Olyphant mine fire too, up in the Scranton/Carbondale area. Not much to see in the way of steam up there though.
Lived in Wilkes barre my whole life(30 yrs old) and recently moved to Georgetown. I've never heard of this nor has anyone I've met ever mentioned it. Actually knew someone who lived in the trailer park at the top and ive drove up that road constantly and it was never mentioned. Although I did always wonder what the pipes were with steam coming out of them. Awesome video and great channel 👍
There are many former towns that were evacuated and razed because of coal mine fires across the Appalachians and coal areas. There has been many suspicions that some fires were possibly started by the mining companies to validate removing the towns to strip mine coal and the towns were in the way.
Good video. It would be interesting to do a survey of the area with a survey grade GPS and thermometer to capture the locations and temperatures of each vent/fissure. Those data could be used to generate a map of (interpolated) hot spot areas using a GIS platform and spatial analysis tools. It'd be interesting to use LIDAR data to generate a current topographic map and compare it with previous, older topographic elevation data to determine if there is a correlation between the hot spots and subsidence caused by the fire. Thanks for posting.
Hello JP great video thank you for bringing us along on the journey it's crazy to think that there's fire burning underground there also thought The blooper was really funny stay safe out there love from upstate New York
No, I had never heard of Laurel Run before. In fact, I learned about Centralia from an earlier video you did (a years ago or so, I think) and after that is when I began noticing other stories about Centralia that were covered online and in the media. I was very surprised to learn today that Laurel Run's fire is actually much older than Centralia's. Very sad for the residents who lost both towns and had to leave their homes to be demolished. But Thank-you for bringing us along to share this history and what it looks like today. As always, great footage and camera work! Stay Safe & Take Care. Looking forward to your next adventure.
Interesting to sample the venting gas to test if it’s steam or if there are combustion products and even partial combustion products. If there’s town gas coming out then that would be conclusive of fire. Carbon monoxide would be present from oxygen starved incomplete combustion.
These old mine fires fascinate me. The drone shots and the music were beautiful. I have never heard of this fire but I have heard of the other one. Reader's Digest also did an article on it a few years ago. Those fissures kinda remind me of volcanic activity or a sleeping dragon under ground. I really enjoyed this video a lot. Thank you for taking me along although it looked cold out there.
Yes I knew about this one since childhood (1980's). I live on the other side of the valley from this site. I remember seeing steam coming out on both sides of Northampton Street 20+ years ago.
I've known and watched a lot of footage including a documentary about the Centralia fire, but never know there was another. I think what made centralia so well known was that it happened more recently and the homes were vacated much later. I think it was larger as well.
Plus the fact a young boy almost fell into a giant sinkhole. Apparently there's over a dozen active mine fires currently burning. Thanks for checking out the video.
Centralia is the only one in Pennsylvania I knew of, in fact it used to be a thriving town not very long ago, will be interesting to see! I'll be here...
So there are/were a handful of these fires in PA: Laurel Run, Pennsylvania Centralia, Pennsylvania Summit Hill, Pennsylvania Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Yes, I had heard about this one. I think I learned about it from another UA-camr a few years ago. This video is great. Love the drone shots and the maps from the 1950s and the current ones. Great production on this. You guys stay safe and warm.
There is a mine burning where I live for decades, I was kid when the disaster happened. Lots of men died. We used to go on top and party when we were older teens and young adults. We called it the moon.. Pockets of smoke rose around us.
1st time I’ve ever heard about this fire. I have been to Centralia multiple times and have even been to Wilkes-Barre but never heard about this burning town in Laurel Run. Thank you.
I’ve lived in PA my whole life and I never knew about this one. Funny thing is I’m a member of a railroad club and the live steamer we have has “Laurel Run” on the tender.
Weird thought...I'm surprised homeless in tents don't live near the warm vents. I wonder what animals inhabit the mine shafts that might be in the area having heat all year. Very neat finds.
I live 5 minutes from this. I actually cut the grass at that tank for American water. I’ve ridden these trails my whole life went to the giants despair race never knew about the town of laurel run or the fire
I actually live within what is about a 5 or 6 mile mile radius that is just a massive abundant anthracite coal area forever with areas still actively mined today. its shelf coal recovery mining out in 3 nearby stone quarries that I have personally been part of the coal mining recovery during the last decade as part of the hauling process transporting the raw coal (coke) to a nearby breaker, Hudson Anthracite in Jankins Township Pa.. I have recovered coal from actual mine fires still burning today in several other area with former local construction company in an attempt to remove the still in unburned coal around the mine fire areas off of new Rt. 6 Casey Highway.. I believe that project is still going on today.
18:56 that lock is a masterlock, they don’t have any security pins in it, so it’s really easy too smack it open or lift all the pins up into the sheer line
I grew up in Hawley pa that is whear my aunts live and my uncle's and my counsin and grandparents lived and great parents lived also jp and Jr keep up the great work and videos coming stay warm be good drive safely please buckle up and safe travels happy holidays to you and yours from the zentgraph family here in med ford Oregon ok
JP thank you so very much for allowing us to come along with you on these awesome finds. No history book can compare to the real life exploring that you guys are able to do. Keep up the great work friends 👍
There are 38 mine fires in PA! One is near Uniontown, Fayette County. They did have it contained but are now talking about it being on the move now towards Pittsburgh!
I do know about Centralia, but not this one. On Barkley mountain whan I was a child there was a mine fire. My grandfather showed me. I was fascinated by the color of the rocks. So I am aware of the probability of the mine fires in pa.
Wow I’ve never heard of this town burning. I’ve definitely heard of Centralia fire bc of the video you did on it a while back. It’s interesting that it was easier to demolish an entire town than put out a fire. Great video 😊
Back then too, they didn't have precise locations and the necessary equipment to find out exactly where the fire was and which direction it was heading. Lots of speculation can lead to costly mistakes. As Anthracite mentioned, it was made more financial sense to be done with the town, especially after the failed attempts of extinguishing the fire.
I appreciate you looking into what was in that box. Unfortunately some sickos like to take animals into the woods to let them slowly die of starvation and exposure and leave them in boxes, crates, cages bags and totes. Thank You again for clearing it.
I just watched a video, it brings back a ton of memories. I grew up in Wilkes-Barre after a while my father moved into Laura Estates and he died in Laura Estates. There was a lot more smoke and For back in the 70s 80s. We used to go hiking around that area, you should take the rifle and be tiger practice back where you were Tere left off lower run Road we climbed Giants despair used to go to races. Thank you for the memory. Michael Duddy
Apparently there's over a dozen more actively burning. Strange how something historic & unfortunate from over 100yrs ago wasn't widely mentioned. Thanks for stopping by Jennifer
I'd only Heard of Centralia about 4 yrs. ago, and Watched the Documentary Vid. It was so Very Sad, and seemed so Crazy. Am only learning of This Place from U, now! Thanks! 😎
Fyi JP, ensure you are upwind and have a 4 sensor Gass monitor clipped on mid chest if your going to explore stacks of smoke and other areas that have potential air/gass hazards. If not for yourself then do it for people that join you... some gasses kill so fast that spending time to save someone will cause the rescuer to die as well. Most of the good monitors will have multiple types of alarms (sound, visual, and physical via vibrations). I loved the intro! Nice editing and music choice. I loved the old image comparison to show nature's over growth and drone work. Love the explanations of what you find as you find it, great little nugets of knowledge. I still can't believe you passed up that TV you found! Would have made an interesting talking point at any gathering!. Lol. Thank you for doing this, besafe, and enjoy the outside!
Please note, this is Not Centralia Pa!
When it comes to mine fires, many of you know about Centralia, but were you aware of this one?
Oh wow, I had no idea this was here, can't wait to watch it! I'm originally from Shamokin so I'm very familiar with Centralia. I moved to Wilkes-Barre for college and now I live in the Clarks Summit/Dalton area so your videos are spot on for me! So glad I recently found your channel!
I found out about it right after your "another google maps object" video came out.
I wasn't aware of this particular mine fire 🔥 but am amazed that the fire 🔥 was declared put out when it is clearly still burning 🔥
Amazing video JP 👍 Thanks so much for taking us all along with you on this adventure!
I've known about the Laurel Run mine fire for a while now. Though I knew about Centralia for way longer. As for the movie(s) kinda based on Centralia (i.e. Silent Hill) they were not exactly what I would call good movies.
By the way, have you ever considered checking out the former neighborhoods in Taylor, PA on Oak Street? The old homes that were there were demolished due to mining issues I believe (like my own neighborhood) and the lots are only now being redeveloped. As recently as the late 80's there was still an old house on the right at the bottom of the hill where they're building condos there now.
The left side of the street has yet to be redeveloped. Unfortunately I think most (if not all) of the properties are posted, so you'd have to fly the drone to check for remnants of the old houses.
@@CheapestGamer explored that area years ago and not much left to see. Today, practically everything is gone and posted like you said. Wish I had a camera back when the moffat coal breaker and all the equipment was still back there.
Interesting to read here on line how few people seem to be aware of Laurel Run. My wife was raised from birth in Laurel Run, lived there until she was 14 yrs old, when the federal government forced her family to move. A very, traumatic experience, particularly since her father, a retired miner with black lung disease died right after they were told they must get out.
She watched this video with me. We carefully studied each frame looking at familiar things. Many memories, both good and bad, but all very distinct and emotional. Basement doors had to be left open for government inspectors who would come around regularly to check for carbon monoxide, the reason they were forced to move.
She lived at the actual starting point of the Giant's Despair Hill Climb. Her home can be seen on many, of the old pics of the climb. Today, you can't see anything there, not even the train tracks which have also been removed. You might have parked across the street from where her house stood.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing her story. It's definitely very shocking how few people knew about this situation.
Does she belong to the FB group for Laurel Run?
It’s just amazing that an underground fire could burn for over a century…enough fuel underground to have heated Pennsylvania and surrounding states for so many years! We are literally sitting on a wealth of natural resources here in Pennsylvania! 🔥
You said it!
To bad that the government wants to do away with fossil fuel which is a bunch of bull you can't just stop using fossil fuel ,everything run on ,or get heated by this fuel
107 years is nothing. Brennender Berg in Saarland, Germany, has been burning since 1668, and Burning Mountain in New South Wales, Australia was going when Europeans arrived and is believed to have been burning for 6,000 years.
Ever time I see or think of mines I think of my.great uncles and great grandfather who died 😢 In mine a live 😢 💔 so sad
Very sorry!!
That is sad. I'm so sorry. Pray they are resting in peace🙏❤️
Grew up very near here and actually Laurel Run borough still exists. On top of the mountain is where the borough building and fire hall are. Also as you go up the Giant , East Northampton St. Or the old Easton Turnpike as it was also called, you will see a stone marker where soldiers from Sullivan's March were killed during the Revolutionary War.
I'm 70 & was born & raised in Allegheny County, where pretty much every area is undermined. When we were kids, we used to play inside old mines that weren't closed up properly. 🤦🏻♀ I never heard of Centralia until I was let loose on the internet when I got a PC 12 years ago. This is the first I've heard of Laurel Run. I love learning something new every day. 🥰 Thanks for an interesting & entertaining video. 😘 I caught a few videos when you were visiting the Pgh area. I hope you enjoyed yourself here & found the people open & friendly (Pgh has been on the top of the list of friendliest people in a medium size city). 😊
I was too
@@AnthraciteHorrorStories For the most part, we would only go in as far as the large entrance room. We were dumb but not stupid. 🤭 One time, we tided a rope around one of my older brother's waist & he went in approx 25 feet beyond the entrance room with a flashlight. He slipped & fell into the mine water on the floor. He hurried out because of huge rats & bats. No one ever went in any farther as far as I know. A couple of years later, they finally got around to sealing the three entrances up. The mine openings were in the woods & the boro wanted to develop the land but they never did.
For all the hundreds of times in the 80s and 90s I drove up and down Giants Despair I never knew this was here right off the side of Laurel Run Rd - my family had mentioned "the old town of Laurel Run" (my great grandparents lived in Ashley) but no one ever mentioned ongoing mine fire or anything - whereas Centralia constantly made the news all throughout the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s as people were moved out and the town relocated. Fascinating!
Even today people who live within walking distance have no idea this is going on.
Back in the 80s I participated in the Giants Despair Hillclimb and never knew about the fire. Will note that the spectators at what is known as the Devil's Elbow weren't always well behaved, and would sometimes affect the drivers with their shenanigans. Possibly due to smoke inhalation causing their behavior?
@@JPVideos81trust me they do. I lived in Georgetown my whole life. Everyone there is elderly and worked in those mines.
It amazing how nature will repair itself & reclaim the land...
Agreed
They talked about Centralia in school in NC in the '70s. I learned about this one today. Thanks.
Awesome video JP! I thought it was going to be about Centralia, but it's great to learn there's actually another abandoned town! Thanks for sharing this with us! Very interesting! I remember one here in Kentucky years ago, they made a big cut through the mountain so it couldn't burn any further, my dad was a bulldozer operator and helped to try and stop it! I think its been burning for over 50 years now! It's just north of Hazard Ky. Awesome video! Great footage! Loved the replacement car!🤣
There's a heartache in Hazard!
Great video! Awesome to see that area again. Back in the late 1990s early 2000s, we use to go dirt biking up Laurel Run. As a teenager in the early 90s, there were movie theaters in the Wyoming Valley Mall and one was outside of the mall across from the Lowes/Olive Garden entrance from Mundy St. Rumor was the floor was hot due to the mine fires. We would go to the movies there in high school, never experienced the hot floor lol. I need to get back up to Laurel Run and Centralia again. Great videos! Keep up the great work
Thanks for checking it out
The movie theater issue was gases from being built on a landfill.
my mother grew up in the 60s and 70s in one of the last houses left on northampton street...always fascinated by the history
Grew up in North Jersey (born ‘78), and spent quite a bit of time around the Poconos, on out to Lebanon or so. Heard about Centralia about 2000 or so, and went there once. Never had heard of Laurel Run until this video. And I love learning as much as local history and folklore as possible Moved to FL in ‘02 and have been learning about down here ever since.
Really enjoyed this video. I wonder if the difference between the two fires is that Centralia was completely within the age of television and so the images caught people's attention. This fire was getting going with WW I and the Spanish Flu being top of the news. By the time television came along, this was old news. The fifty year old fire isn't as big of a story as the new mine fire.
That's an interesting perspective and could be possibly true.
I have family in Shamokin which is a few miles away from Centralia. Been traveling through there since I was a baby. Literally watched the town disappear over the last 40 years. Interesting that there are more underground fires in Pa that aren’t really known about. Thx!
Here in Germany, if one is interested, he may come across some documentaries about Centralia on TV. Had the impression, Centralia was the only one, Sorry. You see, your channel even educates good old Europe 😉Greetings from Bavaria and keep continuing your good work
It's hard to believe that there is fire that's still burning in the ground. Those are some very amazing shots you got of the area Jay.
I'm from the uk, and only vaguely familiar with the concept of a mine fire. I think the first time I heard of it I thought shit that would be a disaster, but didn't know any were actually burning in the world. Kinda fascinating.
I live 10 minutes from there. When I was a kid, I used to ride my dirt bikes there all the time. Those water tanks were made out of wood originally. At one time the steam was coming out right on the road. It just keeps moving along to different spots. It may never go out.
Great capture of what danger that lurks below. The steam tho to bad it don't have use. Thank you for sharing ❤️💯
There used to be a place where you can see the open mine burning in the sixties in this area but that may have bull dozed thanks JP and RJ awesome video ex
In 1985. I was driving to Philadelphia from Watson town Pa. And as I was going through Centralia, I went straight through at the stop sign there was a conversion van behind me. Half way down the hill, I felt a bump under the back of my car and I looked behind me just in time to see the van drop front first into a hole. There was nothing I could do but get the heck out of there. May God have mercy on their souls.
Great video. It brought back many memories. My dad was born and raised in Laurel Run. Every day he took me and my sister to my grandfather's house. That was in the late 50's. It was common to see the steam coming out of the crevices. I knew the story of the mine fire since i was little. We walked those woods daily, being careful where we stepped. I just had my little granddaughter up there 2 days ago. You did a great job .
Grew up in Pittsburgh and remember taking a field trip to the mine bureau in Oakland, where they talked about Laurel Run and Centrala Fires, and several local mine collapes. This was back in the 70s
JP. I hope you're being extra cautious out there. Toxic gasses come from those mine fires. I think it's safe to say, if it's burning those gasses are present.
I just wrote the same thing as I didn't see your comment... must have been thinking the same thing. Great minds think alike, right? Lol.
Sad to think there was a town here .....but its all gone .....roads to no where now. The drone Footage was amazing !! And I really liked the pictures of the town from the past that was really something !! Great video as always !! 👍👍
Ty!
Hi Jay. I hadn't heard of this mine fire until now. Hope you are doing great.
Saw ya in the premiere. Thanks for stopping by 😊
Your welcome. I like all your videos. I find them interesting.
There is also one that has been burning in Colorado near Glenwood springs, that my dad would tell us about, He lived there, I think since the mid to late 1920's
This was awesome video. Been to Centralia. This horrible that they don't teach this stuff in history. We home school our son. We take him to alot of stuff to see that was never taught him. Keep up the great work bud!!!!
I seem to remember Laurel Run was mentioned in the news reports from Centralia fire reports.
I've heard of both fires years ago, but I cannot date it any further back than the 1990s. I'm a railfan and model railroader with an interest in the roads that hauled Anthracite coal, so the mine fires came up in the history of the mines.
I had heard of the Centralia mine fire, but did not know about all the other underground fires. Being coal I could imagine it to burn 100’s of years. Because of all seams of coal underground.
Thanks for the information!
Lived in PA my entire life (64 years) and the only mine fire I've ever heard of is Centralia.
Never heard of this place, before. About 15 years ago, I had the opportunity to wander through the long-gone town of Centralia with the former postmaster of the town. He filled me in on the background of the area, but we never discussed Laurel Run.
Centralia is just a sad story all around, but I find this one more fascinating.
I actually knew of this mine fire in Laurel Run, BEFORE I knew of the one in Centralia, I'm from Mountain Top, and I've actually walked around up there years ago.
Thank you for introducing us to this amazing place!! It’s not Centralia, but it’s super cool anyway!! Thank you RJ and JP for doing the dirty work!! 👍♥️♥️
Centralia is known world wide, but this place has much more evidence that can be seen to this day. Thanks for watching
I have heard of an underground fire near Carbondale, not sure if it still burns, but this is definitely cool to learn about thanks for sharing
"Claim"
Very good story. Hadn’t heard of this one.
Very aware of the fire, lived next to the Kmart a few miles away. Never knew that those living in Georgetown may have been evacuated and homes demolished. There was a CNJ rail line next or very close to the LCTA bus stop. I remember it in the 70s. Did some research said there was a very bad train crash I believe in 65. Was very young don't remember. Fantastic footage and narration, great job, enjoyed much.
Ty for watching and enjoying my take on this disaster.
I had a relative shot by a cop on that railroad. Around 1920's I believe.
Good old' Giants despair!
I've been there once in the early 2010s. I discovered it while researching Centralia and other mine fires. It's really interesting. There's also a finger of fire that passed under the interstate at one time and there signs in the area along the interstate to be aware of fog (smoke) from the fire. I find mine fires fascinating and I found it more interesting than Centralia even. I've also visited the Olyphant mine fire too, up in the Scranton/Carbondale area. Not much to see in the way of steam up there though.
Thanks for checking out the video
I just learned about it watching this video. Thanks. I had heard of Centralia many yrs ago. I’m 66 yrs old.
Lived in Wilkes barre my whole life(30 yrs old) and recently moved to Georgetown. I've never heard of this nor has anyone I've met ever mentioned it. Actually knew someone who lived in the trailer park at the top and ive drove up that road constantly and it was never mentioned. Although I did always wonder what the pipes were with steam coming out of them. Awesome video and great channel 👍
Now that you know, go do some exploring and feel the heat for yourself.
I’ve never heard about this one, but I’ve kind of grown up with Centralia. I’ve driven through. There a few times. It’s eerie.
Check out my latest Centralia revist from last week.
There are many former towns that were evacuated and razed because of coal mine fires across the Appalachians and coal areas. There has been many suspicions that some fires were possibly started by the mining companies to validate removing the towns to strip mine coal and the towns were in the way.
Good video. It would be interesting to do a survey of the area with a survey grade GPS and thermometer to capture the locations and temperatures of each vent/fissure. Those data could be used to generate a map of (interpolated) hot spot areas using a GIS platform and spatial analysis tools. It'd be interesting to use LIDAR data to generate a current topographic map and compare it with previous, older topographic elevation data to determine if there is a correlation between the hot spots and subsidence caused by the fire. Thanks for posting.
Wow! Looks like a really dangerous place for kids to grow up/play.
Hello JP great video thank you for bringing us along on the journey it's crazy to think that there's fire burning underground there also thought The blooper was really funny stay safe out there love from upstate New York
That is weird - as I have never heard of this one either. Thanks for sharing.
No, I had never heard of Laurel Run before. In fact, I learned about Centralia from an earlier video you did (a years ago or so, I think) and after that is when I began noticing other stories about Centralia that were covered online and in the media. I was very surprised to learn today that Laurel Run's fire is actually much older than Centralia's. Very sad for the residents who lost both towns and had to leave their homes to be demolished. But Thank-you for bringing us along to share this history and what it looks like today. As always, great footage and camera work! Stay Safe & Take Care. Looking forward to your next adventure.
You are right. I know about Centralia but not Laurel Run fires.
Interesting to sample the venting gas to test if it’s steam or if there are combustion products and even partial combustion products. If there’s town gas coming out then that would be conclusive of fire. Carbon monoxide would be present from oxygen starved incomplete combustion.
Living in Pennsylvania for over 27 years and only now just heard about this. Thanks!
These old mine fires fascinate me. The drone shots and the music were beautiful. I have never heard of this fire but I have heard of the other one. Reader's Digest also did an article on it a few years ago. Those fissures kinda remind me of volcanic activity or a sleeping dragon under ground. I really enjoyed this video a lot. Thank you for taking me along although it looked cold out there.
😊💙
Yes I knew about this one since childhood (1980's). I live on the other side of the valley from this site. I remember seeing steam coming out on both sides of Northampton Street 20+ years ago.
I'm sure steam was visible for miles back then.
I've known and watched a lot of footage including a documentary about the Centralia fire, but never know there was another.
I think what made centralia so well known was that it happened more recently and the homes were vacated much later. I think it was larger as well.
Plus the fact a young boy almost fell into a giant sinkhole. Apparently there's over a dozen active mine fires currently burning. Thanks for checking out the video.
Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. Never heard of this fire. Centralia, yes.
Centralia is the only one in Pennsylvania I knew of, in fact it used to be a thriving town not very long ago, will be interesting to see! I'll be here...
I heard of a couple others, but this one is new to me even though it's one of the oldest burning ones in this area.
Absolutely unbelievable 👏 another good find.....
Missed the stream, watched the replay. That state forest has alot of good backpacking its been on my radar for awhile, now I gotta go!
Yes, that one differs from Centralia. Laurel run is now completely gone. Centralia still has a few structures remaining.
Top of the mountain and along Pine Run Rd the town of Laurel Run exists.
i was born in reading pa and moved to florida when i was 15 and never heard about the mine fire in laurel run but know about centralia
So there are/were a handful of these fires in PA:
Laurel Run, Pennsylvania
Centralia, Pennsylvania
Summit Hill, Pennsylvania
Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Wow ....How far is Laurel Run from Centralia .?.
Roughly 45 minutes
Very far it's in Wilkes Barre Twp. I lived 2 miles away from there. I checked the distance about 55 miles, I thought it was further
Yes, I had heard about this one. I think I learned about it from another UA-camr a few years ago. This video is great. Love the drone shots and the maps from the 1950s and the current ones. Great production on this. You guys stay safe and warm.
There is a mine burning where I live for decades, I was kid when the disaster happened. Lots of men died. We used to go on top and party when we were older teens and young adults. We called it the moon.. Pockets of smoke rose around us.
Heard of Centralia mine fire, but not the Laurel Run fire. Just like you expected lol
Welcome to the club haha
1st time I’ve ever heard about this fire. I have been to Centralia multiple times and have even been to Wilkes-Barre but never heard about this burning town in Laurel Run. Thank you.
It's worth a stop to check out
I’ve lived in PA my whole life and I never knew about this one. Funny thing is I’m a member of a railroad club and the live steamer we have has “Laurel Run” on the tender.
Incredible how few people know about this
I’m in Canada. I have heard of of the Centalia fire for many years, but never this fire.
Weird thought...I'm surprised homeless in tents don't live near the warm vents. I wonder what animals inhabit the mine shafts that might be in the area having heat all year. Very neat finds.
My husband grew up in this area and scrambled around here as a boy. This was 50+ years ago!
For what it's worth I think you do a great job. I've learned a lot watching your videos.
Thank you for a job well done!
Thanks
It’s not odd that people are unaware of this mine fire. It was so long ago, it is lost in time.
I live 5 minutes from this. I actually cut the grass at that tank for American water. I’ve ridden these trails my whole life went to the giants despair race never knew about the town of laurel run or the fire
I actually live within what is about a 5 or 6 mile mile radius that is just a massive abundant anthracite coal area forever with areas still actively mined today. its shelf coal recovery mining out in 3 nearby stone quarries that I have personally been part of the coal mining recovery during the last decade as part of the hauling process transporting the raw coal (coke) to a nearby breaker, Hudson Anthracite in Jankins Township Pa.. I have recovered coal from actual mine fires still burning today in several other area with former local construction company in an attempt to remove the still in unburned coal around the mine fire areas off of new Rt. 6 Casey Highway.. I believe that project is still going on today.
I am not familiar with the Laurel wood Mine Fire, but I am definitely familiar with the Centralia Fire.
18:56 that lock is a masterlock, they don’t have any security pins in it, so it’s really easy too smack it open or lift all the pins up into the sheer line
I grew up in Hawley pa that is whear my aunts live and my uncle's and my counsin and grandparents lived and great parents lived also jp and Jr keep up the great work and videos coming stay warm be good drive safely please buckle up and safe travels happy holidays to you and yours from the zentgraph family here in med ford Oregon ok
Stunning footage JP
JP thank you so very much for allowing us to come along with you on these awesome finds. No history book can compare to the real life exploring that you guys are able to do. Keep up the great work friends 👍
Thanks so much
There are 38 mine fires in PA! One is near Uniontown, Fayette County. They did have it contained but are now talking about it being on the move now towards Pittsburgh!
The only mine fire I have heard about before hearing about the ones today was Carbondale PA.
I do know about Centralia, but not this one. On Barkley mountain whan I was a child there was a mine fire. My grandfather showed me. I was fascinated by the color of the rocks. So I am aware of the probability of the mine fires in pa.
Wow I’ve never heard of this town burning. I’ve definitely heard of Centralia fire bc of the video you did on it a while back. It’s interesting that it was easier to demolish an entire town than put out a fire. Great video 😊
Back then too, they didn't have precise locations and the necessary equipment to find out exactly where the fire was and which direction it was heading. Lots of speculation can lead to costly mistakes. As Anthracite mentioned, it was made more financial sense to be done with the town, especially after the failed attempts of extinguishing the fire.
I appreciate you looking into what was in that box. Unfortunately some sickos like to take animals into the woods to let them slowly die of starvation and exposure and leave them in boxes, crates, cages bags and totes. Thank You again for clearing it.
I just watched a video, it brings back a ton of memories. I grew up in Wilkes-Barre after a while my father moved into Laura Estates and he died in Laura Estates. There was a lot more smoke and For back in the 70s 80s. We used to go hiking around that area, you should take the rifle and be tiger practice back where you were Tere left off lower run Road we climbed Giants despair used to go to races. Thank you for the memory. Michael Duddy
Yup, this was a new one for me! Thanks for such a cool explore. Crazy to think that's been burning for over 100 years!!
Apparently there's over a dozen more actively burning. Strange how something historic & unfortunate from over 100yrs ago wasn't widely mentioned. Thanks for stopping by Jennifer
@@JPVideos81 right! Hope maybe this becomes a series of sort. Would love to see more about these!
Puts a new twist on the term "geothermal".
I'd only Heard of Centralia about 4 yrs. ago, and Watched the Documentary Vid.
It was so Very Sad, and seemed so Crazy.
Am only learning of This Place from U, now!
Thanks!
😎
great video 🔥😮👍
Thanks Brian
It would actually make sense that you heard about the more recent one first, more people still alive from when that one happened.
Laurel Run was not "ERASED"; It still exists as a borough.
It’s a shame all that coL being burned and wasted. Wish it could be put out. Yeah I’ve heard of it from other channels. Great video
Thanks for checking out the video
Looks like a good test area for some bunker busters
Fyi JP, ensure you are upwind and have a 4 sensor Gass monitor clipped on mid chest if your going to explore stacks of smoke and other areas that have potential air/gass hazards. If not for yourself then do it for people that join you... some gasses kill so fast that spending time to save someone will cause the rescuer to die as well. Most of the good monitors will have multiple types of alarms (sound, visual, and physical via vibrations).
I loved the intro! Nice editing and music choice.
I loved the old image comparison to show nature's over growth and drone work.
Love the explanations of what you find as you find it, great little nugets of knowledge.
I still can't believe you passed up that TV you found! Would have made an interesting talking point at any gathering!. Lol.
Thank you for doing this, besafe, and enjoy the outside!
Thank you, was not aware of this, know about Centralia but not this one.
I think I have heard about the Laura mine, yeah I always thought it was Centralia, my grandfather told me about it, I just wasn't paying attention...
Growing up in the 60’s early 70’s there was a mine fire put out in Shenandoah right behind the Park Diner where the road leads up to the heights.
Wow, very interesting! I wasn't aware that there was another still burning mine fire. It's obvious it IS still burning although officials deny that!
Funny how officials think people will believe anything they say.