On this day, 11 October 1884, one of the longest-burning fires in the world began when striking mine workers set fire to the New Straitsville mine in Ohio.
Miners employed by the Columbus & Hocking Coal and Iron Company had walked out on strike in June, and mine bosses hired scab replacement workers in their place. To prevent the mines from operating, a group of unknown people set fire to mine cars and pushed them into six mines in the area, setting them on fire.
The employers attempted to put the fire out but failed, and in the 1930s the government attempted to create barriers to slow the fire, but were also unsuccessful.
At points, fires lept over 30 m into the air and could be seen for miles around. Thousands of tourists came to the area and even paid 25 cents to see local guides cook eggs and heat coffee over the subterranean fire.
So far over 200 square miles of coal deposits have been burned, and the fire is still burning today (2022).
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/11074/new-straitsville-mine-fire

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