Mississauga Fire is looking for a new leader after what appears to be the sudden exit of the department’s fire chief.
Deryn Rizzi, who has been Mississauga’s fire chief since February 2021, is no longer with the city, according to a statement from a spokesperson.
“As of March 31, 2025 Deryn Rizzi is no longer the director of emergency services and fire chief for the City of Mississauga,” said city spokesperson Irene McCutcheon. “We wish her well in her future endeavours.”
Rizzi did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Mississauga News.
The fire chief’s departure follows what appeared to be an amicable recent appearance at city council.
Rizzi was before council March 5 to discuss a new 911 call system and the city newly receiving a higher fire protection rating by an insurance body.
“Chief Rizzi, you’re fabulous,” said Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish at the meeting.
The mayor also jokingly said she was thinking of putting Rizzi in charge of the local police department to help rein in costs after the Peel police 2025 budget, with its historic $144-million increase, was approved earlier this year.
Rizzi was previously the City of Vaughan’s fire chief and was named Fire Chief of the Year in 2023 by the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association.
Rizzi led Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services as the city invested millions in new stations and major renovations at facilities deemed in need of repairs as part of 10-year capital plan.
“As we look to the future, we face increased demand on emergency services driven by population growth, urban development and, as we saw this summer, the complexities of climate change,” Rizzi said at a November 2024 city budget meeting.
The city’s most recent budget included plans to build five new fire stations with the aim of lowering response times.
In 2024, Mississauga Fire met the national standard for arriving at a call for service within 240 seconds approximately 55 per cent of the time.
Rizzi’s departure comes as the city is negotiating a new contract with its firefighters.
Chris Varcoe, president of Mississauga firefighters union local AIFF 1212, said he wishes Rizzi well and that he believes it’s a “chaotic time” in the city’s management group.
“The association will continue to work with whomever the fire chief is to educate them on the problems that they face both in the training model and delivery of service,” he said.
According to McCutcheon, Stephane Malo will serve as acting fire chief until a permanent replacement is in place.
Malo was previously a deputy chief at Mississauga Fire and has been with the service since 1996.