Halifax's First Female Fire Chief Tackles Staff Shortages, Response Times, and Workplace Culture
Deryn Rizzi, the first woman to lead Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency, is addressing staff shortages, declining response times, and past discrimination allegations since taking office in mid-August. She plans to request additional firefighters for understaffed aerial devices while working to improve workplace culture.
Deryn Rizzi has become the first woman to serve as chief of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency, assuming leadership of the department in mid-August after previously holding fire chief roles in Vaughan, Mississauga, and Toronto Pearson Airport in Ontario. 
Rizzi takes on the role amid several challenges facing the department, including staff shortages, increasing high-rise development, and a history of workplace culture concerns. The Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Association previously alleged racist, misogynistic, and homophobic behavior from managers within the department. Since starting, Rizzi has prioritized improving workplace culture through renewed committees and dedicated human resources support.
Staff shortages have also affected emergency response effectiveness. In 2025, an effective firefighting force of 14 firefighters arrived on scene within 11 minutes 67.8 per cent of the time. That rate dropped to 64.5 per cent in 2026. Both figures fall short of the Halifax Regional Municipality council's target of 75 per cent and the industry standard of 90 per cent cited by the chief.
Aerial devices, such as ladder trucks, are currently operating with two firefighters instead of the traditional four. Rizzi plans to bring a report to council at the end of the month requesting additional firefighters for these units. 
The department is also adapting to the demands of growing high-rise development in Halifax. Firefighters carry at least 80 pounds of equipment when responding to high-rise fires, requiring specialized tactics and equipment. Alongside procuring new equipment, Rizzi is developing wildfire training protocols to be rolled out before spring.