The last holdouts of a community in Columbia County where a mine fire chased out everybody else are taking their case to court. They are trying to keep Pennsylvania officials from seizing their homes.
The few remaining residents are asking to stay in their homes. They believe the underground mine fire is not putting them in any danger and the real reason the state wants them out is to grab mineral rights.
Most of the residents of Centralia were forced to move out of town in the 1980s and 1990s because of an underground mine fire. Right now, there are about four homes left with fewer than a dozen residents. They were advised by their attorneys not to talk about the lawsuit.
Elaine Kuzo used to live along Route 61 near Centralia but she chose to leave almost 20 years ago.
She is shocked to find out the few remaining residents in the community have gone to court to try to stop the state from forcing them to leave their homes.
"I couldn't understand why they would want to do that. There is nothing there. There is no police protection. There is just nothing and of course the properties are worth nothing," Kuzo said.
Her home and many others in the Centralia area were bought out by the government in the 1980s and 1990s and demolished.
"I would leave. There is another world out there and I would find another place," Kuzo added.
In court papers filed in Harrisburg, nine remaining residents claim the real reason they are being forced out is so a mining company can end up with the mineral rights to hundreds of millions of dollars worth coal under the borough.
Andrew Ostrowski, the lawyer representing the residents said in a statement, "The petition is about these people that have stayed in Centralia for 17 years. They have not seen proof the fire is a hazard or is increasing in condition and may have never been a problem."
Michael Lapotsky also used to live in Centralia and said the residents should fight to stay.
"I don't know how they can stay. With eminent domain, if they cut off the utilities, what are they going to do? I think they should have the right to stay if they want to stay but it going to be with difficulty," Lapotsky said.
A representative in the governor's office said they could not comment about the court action by the residents of Centralia because it is and ongoing legal case.
The few remaining residents are asking to stay in their homes. They believe the underground mine fire is not putting them in any danger and the real reason the state wants them out is to grab mineral rights.
Most of the residents of Centralia were forced to move out of town in the 1980s and 1990s because of an underground mine fire. Right now, there are about four homes left with fewer than a dozen residents. They were advised by their attorneys not to talk about the lawsuit.
Elaine Kuzo used to live along Route 61 near Centralia but she chose to leave almost 20 years ago.
She is shocked to find out the few remaining residents in the community have gone to court to try to stop the state from forcing them to leave their homes.
"I couldn't understand why they would want to do that. There is nothing there. There is no police protection. There is just nothing and of course the properties are worth nothing," Kuzo said.
Her home and many others in the Centralia area were bought out by the government in the 1980s and 1990s and demolished.
"I would leave. There is another world out there and I would find another place," Kuzo added.
In court papers filed in Harrisburg, nine remaining residents claim the real reason they are being forced out is so a mining company can end up with the mineral rights to hundreds of millions of dollars worth coal under the borough.
Andrew Ostrowski, the lawyer representing the residents said in a statement, "The petition is about these people that have stayed in Centralia for 17 years. They have not seen proof the fire is a hazard or is increasing in condition and may have never been a problem."
Michael Lapotsky also used to live in Centralia and said the residents should fight to stay.
"I don't know how they can stay. With eminent domain, if they cut off the utilities, what are they going to do? I think they should have the right to stay if they want to stay but it going to be with difficulty," Lapotsky said.
A representative in the governor's office said they could not comment about the court action by the residents of Centralia because it is and ongoing legal case.
