Portable toilets for firefighters -- good enough for Chelsea Clinton

A while back a tiny non-profit group kicked around an idea about buying a trailer, putting a port-a-potty on it, and giving it to the Midland Fire Department so it could be hauled to the scene when firefighters had to spend hours at a stubborn fire.

The Sheriff's Office has one they use for inmate work crews, see photos of it here.

But the fire department had no place to store it. The MFD has some first class facilities with fire engines costing nearly a million dollars. To stick a port-a-potty on the premises would create an eyesore. So the idea got shelved.

You may be wondering, what do the firefighters do when they get stuck for hours at a stubborn fire and have to pee? The answer to that question is: "Don't ask."

But hold on. Chelsea Clinton got married the other day, and one of the most intriguing news bite that came from that was the story about the bathrooms for the rich and famous. Lemondrop.com calls them one of the 9 'Uber' Bridal Trends Chelsea Clinton's Wedding Will Launch:

Trend #2: Uber-Toilets
Well-clad backsides, meet the Presidential Series Luxury Washrooms. "They're bringing in three: one for service personnel, one for men and one for women," confides Donnie. The loos, from Room to Go, Inc., come complete with skylights, marble countertops and multiple stalls -- for around $15,000.

TMZ has more:

The portable latrines have actual porcelain toilets that flush, stereo music and hot running water -- oh yeah, and they're HUGE.

We're told Chelsea's getting between 4-6 trailers for the big day -- with a total cost of about $15,000.

The 15 grand must be for a short term rental with delivery included, because those things are quite expensive to buy outright. The photos and floor plan at TMZ look identical to the ELtia Luxury Restroom Trailer 28 available from Black Tie Services.

Chelsea established that they are good enough for the Clintons. So downsize a little bit, say, to the two holer OPTimum Basic Restroom Trailer 14 (same link), and now we're talking. It's two bathrooms on a trailer. The price quoted a few months ago was $16,500 plus $2,000 for the fresh water system. To have it delivered would cost $1.65/Mile from Goshen, Indiana, which appears to be about $2,200 away from the MFD central station. So for a mere $21,000 the firefighters would have a place to pee in private.

Would it be worth it? Well sure. The city can't afford it, but if some altruistic person or organization has some money burning a hole in their pocket and wants to make a tax deductible donation, there's a good use for the money.

Thank you Chelsea.

Comments

[bogman]

Of course the fire fighters should have toilets available at their place of work - It's a basic human right. Just because they are not working in an office environment should make no difference. Ask the guys at City Hall to do without and they'd soon kick up a fuss. I would have thought that supplying ones as good as those used at weddings was going a little too far though.

[Geo]

Good point, bogman. Too bad there isn't a happy medium somewhere between the fancy big ones and the simple port-a-potties.