Halifax Fire Chief Warns of Staffing Challenges as High-Rise Construction Booms
New Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Chief Deryn Rizzi highlights the logistical and staffing demands posed by the city's growing number of high-rise buildings, including a proposed 52-storey tower.
Deryn Rizzi, the newly appointed chief for Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE), has emphasized the significant logistical and staffing challenges facing the department as Halifax continues to densify with high-rise construction. Previously serving in the same role in Mississauga, Ontario, Rizzi notes that while modern high-rises are often safer than detached homes due to non-combustible materials like reinforced concrete and automatic sprinkler systems, they require substantially more personnel during emergencies.
The current landscape of urban development includes a 40-storey building under construction near the foot of the Macdonald bridge in Dartmouth and a proposal for a 52-storey structure near the Armdale Rotary in Halifax. The latter would exceed the height of One77 on Quinpool Road, which stands at 34 storeys and was completed in 2025 as the city’s tallest building.
Firefighting tactics shift dramatically once buildings exceed seven floors or 75 feet, a threshold marking the practical reach limit for ground ladders and exterior master streams. In such scenarios, crews typically use firefighter elevators to stop at least two floors below the incident. From there, firefighters must walk up carrying equipment while wearing full protective gear.
High-rise incidents demand greater staffing levels than typical residential fires because crews must simultaneously manage multiple complex functions. These include fire attack, search and rescue, lobby control, stairwell support, air management, accountability, rapid intervention, evacuation support, and command operations. The department stresses that staffing levels must evolve to keep pace with this urban growth, addressing the physical strain on firefighters and the need for specialized training and equipment.