Halifax Fire Chief Requests 20 Additional Firefighters to Address Staffing Shortfalls
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Chief Deryn Rizzi is seeking approximately $1 million in the next municipal budget for 20 additional firefighters, equipment technicians, mental health training, and other resources. The request follows data showing missed response standards, aerial truck 'brownouts,' doubled unplanned absences since 2018, and low fire inspection compliance.
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Chief Deryn Rizzi has requested 20 additional firefighters in next year’s municipal budget to address staffing levels that currently fall below industry safety standards.
Aerial trucks in Halifax are presently staffed with two firefighters per unit, which is below the industry standard of three and the recommended standard of four. Operating an aerial truck with a crew of four is 12 minutes faster than with a crew of three. Due to insufficient personnel, two aerial trucks experienced 23 and 25 "brownouts" respectively in 2025, meaning they could not be deployed. In 2025, 40 per cent of emergency responses failed to meet the industry standard of getting 14 firefighters on site within 14 minutes.
The total funding request is approximately $1 million, representing about one per cent of the annual fire service budget. Halifax regional council deferred the request to the budget committee for approval or denial next year.
Beyond frontline staffing, the fire service is requesting $183,600 to add two bunker gear and warehouse technicians to support 1,100 firefighters across 51 stations. A one-time sum of $125,000 is being sought for mental health and resiliency training. Coun. Tony Mancini stated that five firefighters have died by suicide since he was elected. The request also includes $120,000 for volunteer honorariums and $167,000 for a wildland-urban interface program. The department currently has around 560 volunteers and expects to reach 600 by the end of the year.
Council members raised concerns regarding unfilled inspector positions and rising unplanned absences. Only nine of 14 inspector positions are currently filled, leaving fire inspection compliance at 30 per cent. Unplanned absences among firefighters have doubled since 2018, rising from 5.2 per cent to 10.3 per cent in 2026.
Urban development trends present further challenges. Since 2021, 223 permits have been issued for new highrise buildings—defined as four storeys and higher—in Halifax.