Residents Win Eminent Domain Fight in Centralia, Pa.

May remain in their homes in town abandoned due to decades-old coal fire

All they ever wanted was to be left alone, free to live out their lives in the central Pennsylvania coal town whose population had fled an underground mine fire.

After 20 years, the residents of Centralia have finally gotten their wish.

A lengthy battle over eminent domain culminated this week when eight residents settled their lawsuit against state officials who had been trying to evict them from their condemned homes — the only homes left standing after most of Centralia was razed in the 1980s because of a coal-mine fire that still burns.