Richmond Hill fire chief steps down, joins former Vaughan chief in Mississauga

Steve Kraft becomes Deryn Rizzi's platoon chief

Yorkregion.com
May 18, 2021
Yoyo Yan

After 33 years of service to Richmond Hill, the city's fire chief Steve Kraft decided to take a step down on the firefighter ladder.

Kraft will join Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services as the platoon chief of A shift. "Steve will begin his new chapter with us on June 7," Mississauga fire announced May 12.

According to Richmond Hill fire, Kraft started as a volunteer in 1987 and was hired full time in 1988. He has been a captain, qualified platoon chief, deputy; and for the last 10 years, the fire chief.

"Thank you Chief for your service, support, dedication, and all your accomplishments over the last 33 years. We wish you the best in your next chapter of your career," Richmond Hill fire wrote in a Twitter announcement.

Kraft did not respond to The Liberal's request for comments about his new role, but he did Tweet out a response to a welcome message from Shari Lichterman, Mississauga's commissioner of community services.

"Thank you Commissioner Lichterman. I'm looking forward to joining this great team of leaders," Kraft wrote.

In a press release, Richmond Hill confirmed Kraft's resignation to pursue new opportunities, but the city declined to provide further explanation.

"On behalf of Members of Council, I sincerely thank Chief Steve Kraft for his more than 30 years of exemplary service to Richmond Hill and his dedication to keeping our community safe," Richmond Hill Acting Mayor Joe DiPaola said in the statement.

Richmond Hill has appointed deputy fire chief, Bryan Burbidge, as interim fire chief, effective May 28, 2021. Burbidge has 30 years of experience in the fire service and he started with Richmond Hill fire in August 2012.

Chief Kraft's last day is May 28, according to the city.

Mississauga's newly appointed fire chief, Deryn Rizzi, said she is "thrilled" and looking forward to Kraft joining her team.

Rizzi took over as Mississauga fire chief on Feb. 2 and made history in 2018 when she became Vaughan fire chief, the first woman in Ontario to hold the position.