Underground coal fires can persist for many decades or even longer because the smoldering coal in the formation is insulated by rock and dirt, and as such, Australia’s Burning Mountain is believed to have been on fire for the last 6,000 years.
What Makes Them So Hard to Stop?
Once a fire from a coal seam gets out of control, as is the case of Centralia and Burning Mountain, it is nearly impossible to extinguish. Centralia has been burning since 1962 even though around $4 million has been spent on trying to control it.
How Are Underground Coal Fires Starts?
Seams can catch fire due to a number of reasons, including spontaneous combustion, lightning, or human activities in the mines. For example, the Jharia coalfield in India has been catching fire since 1916, with tens of thousands of people living over it, while suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.
What Is Their Impact on the Climate?
Reports suggest that coal fires contribute 3 percent of CO2 emissions and 40 tons of mercury each year, but unlike power plants, it is difficult to monitor them.
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