One of the last remaining residents of Centralia relunctantly moved out of his home Wednesday, leaving the once vibrant community in Columbia County.
It was moving day at John Comarnisky's home in Centralia. For several hours hired movers carried furnishings out of the house and into a moving van.
"Sentimently I have an attachment to the home and sentimently I have an attachment to the community. They are good people, yeah," Comarnisky said, his voice full of emotion.
The move is a part of history. Only a handful of homes are left in the community.
Government officials said dangerous fumes from an uncontrolled, burning coal mine fire continue to seep to the surface and that's why the remaining residents have to leave.
Beginning in the 1980s, one home after another was bought up by the government and demolished. What's left are open fields.
Comarnisky's home is the latest target.
"Shock and amazement. I really didn't think they'd get to a point that they would say you have to go. I thought it would be a situation where we'd die of old age and live out our lives as long as we wanted to live here," Comarnisky said.
A federal study said left alone, the fire burning in Centralia will last at least 100 years but the fire is no where near Comarnisky's home. In addition, a year-long study by the state shows air quality in Centralia is good. That's got Comarnisky wondering why he has to move.
"I never thought that I would have to relocate," he said.
Those concerns are shared by one of the men moving Comarnisky out of his home.
"He said he's young enough that he would do the move but for the people that have been here their whole life. It's sad," said Ron Whitman of Minersville.
The state agency in charge of buying Centralia's homes would only say the buyout process will continue and could not comment about the report saying the air quality in the community is good.
It was moving day at John Comarnisky's home in Centralia. For several hours hired movers carried furnishings out of the house and into a moving van.
"Sentimently I have an attachment to the home and sentimently I have an attachment to the community. They are good people, yeah," Comarnisky said, his voice full of emotion.
The move is a part of history. Only a handful of homes are left in the community.
Government officials said dangerous fumes from an uncontrolled, burning coal mine fire continue to seep to the surface and that's why the remaining residents have to leave.
Beginning in the 1980s, one home after another was bought up by the government and demolished. What's left are open fields.
Comarnisky's home is the latest target.
"Shock and amazement. I really didn't think they'd get to a point that they would say you have to go. I thought it would be a situation where we'd die of old age and live out our lives as long as we wanted to live here," Comarnisky said.
A federal study said left alone, the fire burning in Centralia will last at least 100 years but the fire is no where near Comarnisky's home. In addition, a year-long study by the state shows air quality in Centralia is good. That's got Comarnisky wondering why he has to move.
"I never thought that I would have to relocate," he said.
Those concerns are shared by one of the men moving Comarnisky out of his home.
"He said he's young enough that he would do the move but for the people that have been here their whole life. It's sad," said Ron Whitman of Minersville.
The state agency in charge of buying Centralia's homes would only say the buyout process will continue and could not comment about the report saying the air quality in the community is good.
