Halifax Fire axes nine top-level members
Posted Jul 17, 2012 05:32:20 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nine upper-level members of the Halifax Regional Fire Service have been let go.
Termination notices went out Monday to three assistant deputy chiefs, two division chiefs, one district chief, one office manager and two administrative support staffers.
Councillor Steve Streatch tells News 95.7 it’s part of an overall shift towards less management and improved service.
“I think it’s fair to say administration had become top-heavy,” he said. “There were way too many people in offices and not necessarily out in the fire statinos where we need the men and women trained to protect our communities.”
Streatch says the cuts will save HRM about $1 million, but will not affect on-the-ground firefighting efforts.
If anything, he says the front-line efforts will be enhanced because several suburban and rural operations will get more resources and more input into local decision making.
“There has been too much redundancy within the fire service,” he said. “We’re looking for efficiencies, looking for ways to scale back the administration at the same time putting greater resources and decision making capabilities out into the local communities, where it’s needed.”
The job cuts are effective immediately, and the positions have been eliminated from the fire service roster.
