Cause of port-a-potty fire remains a mystery

A port-a-potty was the only casualty of a mysterious toilet fire that took place on Greenbank Farm Sunday afternoon, according to Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue.

Acting Deputy Chief Jim Mirabile said the port-a-potty in question was little more than a smoldering pile of melted plastic by the time firefighters arrived. The responders finished extinguishing the small fire but were unable to determine a cause.

Mirabile added that there were no videos or witnesses to the incident.

No one was injured, and the fire was isolated and did not spread to any other structures on the historic farm.

Mirabile, who spent 25 years as a firefighter in Washington D.C. before retiring to Whidbey Island and joining the Central Whidbey fire department, said the port-a-potty was just one in a string of many strange blazes he has dealt with in his career.

“I’ve seen a lot of odd things on fire over the years,” he said with a laugh.