"Mine fire" was made or allowed across the valley/stream from location of majority coal vein. Media-hype fraudulently drove residents off their land; meanwhile, government and business grabbed land and mineral rights. Seems likeliest a multi-generational theft. In retrospect it was shockingly easy to sway popular opinion to drive people away; 99% folded and fled promptly and within one generation the town was gone.
"My name is Andy Ostrowski. I'm currently ... a candidate for United States Congress ... that covers Columbia County [the borough of Centralia]. I'm also one of the lawyers who represented about 8 or 10 of the last remaining property owners in Centralia."
"What happened in Centralia was basically a fraud. There are billions and billions dollars worth of [highest purity, highest quality anthracite] coal running right underneath [Centralia]. And as you see [in 2014], there's no evidence of any fire anywhere. However, 20 years ago there was a projection, or at least the image created [in mass media] that we were going to be standing in the middle of a raging inferno right now. [That false projection, media-hyped imagery was used to fraudulenty drive out all the residents and grab all the land and mineral rights.]" -- 3:36 into part 1.
"Never a single time in any proceeding did [the Pennsylvania government, any business, any person, or any other entity] present evidence to justify the entire premise of the takings of the properties, nor the entire premise that there was [underground mine] fire that was going to threaten [Centralia]. There is no justification on the record anywhere, other than people saying it, people presenting it, creating a [mass media] frenzy back during the 1990s."" [that exemplifies Zionic Tribal Mass Media.] -- 12:41 into part 1.
"Truth is not for all men, but only for those who seek it." Ayn Rand