Fire Rescue Magazine reported today that Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Firefighters met with representatives of the National Volunteer Firefighters Council at IAFF Local 4799 Fallbrook International Airport, PA to announce a new union initiative.

"It is appropriate, at our newest IAFF Local here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that we announce a ground breaking initiative called "What Alert, What Page?" This new national policy will allow our nearly 300,000 members to support their local communities in any way they see fit. We have contacted all of our local presidents and informed them that if they hear a pager going off on any member's belt that they are immediately instructed to repeat "What Alert, What Page?" until the noise, or the union member goes away. This will allow the member to consider their personal abilities and availability and determine if they can provide a service to their community, if they are off duty.

NVFC Chairman Philip Stittleburg was asked to comment on the new IAFF policy but could only sit and stare with his mount agape. First Vice Chairman Jack Carriger opined that this day, April 1st, 2010, will be long remembered as a watershed date for the fire service.

Local President Hack Wilson expressed his excitement, “I thought that they would announce agreement on smooth bore or adjustable nozzles, or even the color of fire trucks. But I never guessed that it would be this extreme!”

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell took credit for bring the two groups together for this historic meeting and said that “since Benjamin Franklin the Commonwealth has expressed its thanks to the brave men and women that serve their fellow citizens in times of emergency. And it will continue to do so.”

Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Edward Mann’s comments were cut short by a fire that required both the volunteer and paid firefighters to respond.

Hey, we can dream right? Happy April Fool! And too bad.