All emergency services in the Halifax Regional Municipality, and in Nova Scotia, are accessible through our 911 system administered by the Nova Scotia Emergency Management  Office (EMO). EMO is responsible for integrated emergency planning, response, preparedness training, and search and rescue operations throughout our province. The structure of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s EMO service is outlined in a municipal by-law.

Police Service
Halifax Regional Police provide general policing services in the Halifax Regional Municipality’s urban core - Halifax, Dartmouth, and Bedford. They also provide business services such as Business Safety Programs and a Business Watch program modeled after the successful Neighbourhood Watch program.

Greater Halifax is also the headquarters location for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police H Division that serves all of Nova Scotia. The RCMP provides general policing services for suburban and rural areas of the Halifax Regional Municipality including Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Fire and Emergency Services
Greater Halifax is home to Canada’s oldest organized fire fighting service. In 2004, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services celebrated its 250th anniversary of protecting our community. Each year, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services responds to more than 12,000 calls including fires, rescues, medical emergencies, accidents, and hazardous materials incidents.

Our municipality is divided into two broad areas for fire and emergency services. The urbanized core area includes Halifax, Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Westphal, Bedford, and Sackville and is served by 17 stations. The non-core area is served by 42 stations and staffed by a mix of volunteer and career firefighters all coordinated by a central dispatch system.