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Chicago Fire (TV series)

Chicago Fire is an American procedural drama television series created by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, with Dick Wolf as an executive producer. It is the first installment of Wolf Entertainment's Chicago franchise, which deals with different public services in Chicago, Illinois.[1] The show follows the professional and personal lives of firefighters, rescue personnel, and paramedics of the Chicago Fire Department at the fictional Firehouse 51. The series premiered on NBC on October 10, 2012. As of March 27, 2024, the series has aired 247 episodes. In April 2023, the series was renewed for a twelfth season,[2] which premiered on January 17, 2024.[3] In March 2024, the series was renewed for a thirteenth season.[4]

This article is about the fictional NBC TV series. For the current season, see Chicago Fire season 12. For the MLS team, see Chicago Fire FC. For the real-life fire service, see Chicago Fire Department. For the deadly 1871 fire, see Great Chicago Fire.

Chicago Fire

  • Derek Haas
  • Matt Olmstead
  • Michael Brandt
  • Dick Wolf
  • Andrea Newman

United States

English

12

1360 South Blue Island Avenue at Maxwell Street, and Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, Chicago, Illinois

40–44 minutes

NBC

October 10, 2012 (2012-10-10) –
present (present)

Plot[edit]

The show explores the professional and personal lives of the firefighters, rescue personnel, and paramedics of the Chicago Fire Department at the fictional Firehouse 51, home of the fictional Engine Company 51, Truck Company 81, Rescue Squad Company 3, Battalion 25, and Ambulance 61.

as Lieutenant Matthew Casey, Truck Company 81 (seasons 1–10; guest seasons 11–12[5]) Casey is the lieutenant at Firehouse 51 and the officer in charge of Truck Company 81. He serves as second in command to Battalion Chief Wallace Boden. Casey is skilled handyman and carpenter—he freelances as a construction contractor when off-duty. He is civic-minded and becomes an elected alderman to further serve the city. Despite his reticence and aloof demeanor, he is fiercely protective of the firefighters under him and commands their loyalty and respect. He was briefly engaged to Dr. Hallie Thomas in season one and from seasons five to seven, was married to Gabriela Dawson. In the sixth-season episode "An Even Bigger Surprise", he is promoted to captain by Chief Boden. In the ninth-season finale "No Survivors", he begins dating paramedic Sylvie Brett. In the tenth-season episode "Two Hundred", Casey moves to Oregon to take care of Andrew Darden's sons but maintained a long-distance relationship with Brett. He later returns in the season finale to attend Severide and Kidd's wedding. In the eleventh-season premiere, Brett breaks up with him feeling that they had grown apart by the distance. In the season 11 finale "Red Waterfall", he returns to Chicago and proposes to Sylvie, they married in season 12 episode 6 "Port in the Storm".

Jesse Spencer

as Lieutenant Kelly Severide, Rescue Squad 3. Severide is the lieutenant at Firehouse 51 and the officer in charge of Squad 3. As lieutenant, he serves as third in command to Battalion Chief Wallace Boden. In contrast to Casey, he is charismatic and portrayed to be something of a "ladies' man". He and Casey have been friends since their days at the CFD Academy, but their friendship becomes strained after a mutual colleague dies on the job. His father was Chief Benny Severide, a long-time friend of Chief Boden and Henry Mills, father of Candidate Peter Mills. In the season 4 finale, "Superhero", he begins dating Stella Kidd. In the season 9 episode "A White-Knuckle Panic", they become engaged. In the season 10 episode "The Magnificent City of Chicago", they get married.

Taylor Kinney

as Paramedic in Charge Gabby Dawson, Ambulance 61 (seasons 1–6; guest seasons 7–8).[6][7] She is the younger sister of Chicago P.D. and Chicago Justice character Detective Antonio Dawson. Dawson is one of the few women in 51 and is usually treated as a sister by the men. She is the Paramedic in Charge (PIC) of Ambulance 61 but goes to the fire academy and passes the training to become a firefighter and joins Truck 81. She later transfers back to Ambulance 61 to provide cover for Jimmy Borelli when he transfers back to Truck 81 and after becoming a foster parent has become more concerned about the dangers of the job. In season one, she briefly dates Peter Mills. From seasons five to seven, she was married to Matt Casey. After the sixth-season finale "The Grand Gesture", she left Chicago to head a rescue-and-relief unit in Puerto Rico, but briefly returned to say goodbye to Casey in the seventh-season premiere "A Closer Eye" and again for a charity ball in the eighth-season episode "Best Friend Magic".

Monica Raymund

as Paramedic Leslie Elizabeth Shay, Ambulance 61 (seasons 1–2; guest season 3). As an experienced paramedic, Shay was the designated ambulance driver and was well-liked by the mostly male crew of 51. She and Kelly Severide shared an apartment as roommates and were best friends. Popular with her co-workers, she was openly gay, often cracking self-deprecating jokes about it. In the third-season premiere "Always", she was killed in its continuation of the second-season finale "Real Never Waits" cliffhanger, in which a serial arsonist intentionally set a trap for the first responders. In "Three Bells", she was honored and remembered by her co-workers at 51. She is memorialized by an inscription painted on the cab door of Ambulance 61.

Lauren German

as Firefighter Candidate Peter Mills and later Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61 (seasons 1–3). Mills begins as a candidate on Truck 81, following in his deceased father's footsteps, but after proving his capabilities as a firefighter, he earns a spot on Squad 3. After losing his firefighter certification due to injury, he transfers to Ambulance 61 to keep working. He eventually recovers and earns his spot back on the squad but chose to leave Chicago in "You Know Where to Find Me" to work with his family in North Carolina. He briefly dates Gabriela Dawson in season one.

Charlie Barnett

as Senior Firefighter Christopher Herrmann, Engine 51, previously Truck 81: One of the senior firefighters at 51, he serves on Truck 81 before he passes the Lieutenant exam, after five previous attempts, and is officially promoted to Lieutenant in the seventh season episode "Thirty Percent Sleight of Hand" and takes over as officer in charge of Engine Company 51. As Lieutenant, he serves as fourth in command to Battalion Chief Wallace Boden. A father figure to the firehouse, the men and women often come to him for advice. He engages in many get rich quick schemes before he, Otis and Dawson jointly invest in a small bar one of their victims had been trying to sell, which they call Molly's. Molly's is also featured on Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med as a favorite hangout of cops and medical personnel.

David Eigenberg

as Battalion Chief Wallace Boden, Battalion 25. He oversees the firefighters and paramedics of Truck 81, Engine 51, Squad 3 and Ambulance 61 at Firehouse 51. A long-time veteran of the CFD, he is extremely protective of the men and women who serve under him, even putting his career on the line several times to help them. He is married to Donna, who is a teacher, and they have a son named Terrance, who was born in season 3. In season 10, he is promoted to Deputy District Chief.

Eamonn Walker

as Firefighter Brian "Otis" Zvonecek, Truck 81 (recurring season 1; seasons 2–8). Prior to Mills' assignment in the pilot, Otis was the latest candidate to be assigned to 81. He was routinely assigned to work elevators, and his nickname "Otis" came from the Otis Elevator Company. He became the driver after Joe Cruz transferred to Squad 3. In the season eight premiere, "Sacred Ground", he was fatally wounded (continuing from the season seven finale, "I'm Not Leaving You", cliff-hanger) and dies with Cruz by his side in the hospital.

Yuri Sardarov

as Senior Firefighter Randall "Mouch" McHolland, Truck 81 (recurring season 1; season 2 – present). Another of 51's senior firefighters, Mouch is the de facto "legal advisor" of 51 and is their union representative. His nickname is a portmanteau of "man" and "couch" since he is almost always seen sitting on the couch in the lounge watching TV when not on a call. In the fourth-season episode "On The Warpath", he marries Chicago P.D. character Sergeant Trudy Platt.

Christian Stolte

as Firefighter Joe Cruz, Squad 3 (recurring season 1; main season 2 – present). A native of the gangster-infested neighborhoods of Humboldt Park, he spends the first two seasons constantly trying to bail his wayward younger brother out of trouble. In the third-season finale, "Spartacus", he transfers to Squad 3. In season three, he briefly dates Sylvie Brett. In the eighth-season episode "Light Things Up", he marries Chloe Allen. He was formerly the designated driver for Truck 81 before his transfer to Squad 3. In season 10, episode 200, his son is born, and they name him Brian "Otis" Leon Cruz.

Joe Minoso

as Dr. Hallie Thomas (season 1). Matt Casey's ex-fiancée. They broke up due to differing views, her hectic schedule and his irregular hours which prevented them from spending much time together, but they remained friends. They briefly rekindled their relationship until she was murdered in a fire as part of a cover-up after she discovered that one of her colleagues at her clinic was selling medication to drug dealers.

Teri Reeves

as Paramedic Sylvie Brett, Ambulance 61 (seasons 3–12). Sylvie is a paramedic who joins Ambulance 61 in season three, replacing Leslie Shay after her death. She is a small-town girl from Fowlerton, Indiana, and is a "runaway bride" who goes up I-65 to Chicago. Initially, she has difficulty adjusting to city life due to her naiveté, as shown by the fact that she leaves cash out on the table with the windows open and rented an apartment in a neighborhood known for crime because the rent was cheap. She briefly dates Joe Cruz in season three and shares an apartment with Dawson prior to the latter's marriage to Casey. After her third partner, Jessica Chilton, is fired, Sylvie is promoted to Paramedic in Charge (PIC) (season 4). She dates Dawson's brother Antonio on and off from seasons five to six and is also briefly engaged to Chaplain Kyle Sheffield from seasons seven to eight. In the ninth-season finale, "No Survivors", she begins dating Dawson's ex-husband Captain Matthew Casey, and in the tenth-season episode "Two Hundred", she begins a long-distance relationship with him when he moves to Oregon, which she later ends in the eleventh-season premiere after feeling that they had grown apart by the distance. In the season 11 finale "Red Waterfall", Casey returns to Chicago and proposes to Sylvie, they married in season 12 episode 6 "Port in the Storm".

Kara Killmer

as Paramedic in Charge Jessica "Chili" Chilton (recurring season 3; main season 4). She was brought in to replace Peter Mills as the new Paramedic in Charge (PIC). Her arrival is initially met with some frostiness from the rest of the crew since they were still getting over Mills' sudden departure. She was previously with a firehouse in the West Side and is experienced in dealing with victims of major trauma. She dates Jimmy Borelli in the fourth season. She is later fired by Chief Boden during the fourth season after the death of her sister causes her to nearly kill a patient by giving her the wrong medicine and later to relapse into alcoholism. After she is fired, she calls Kelly Severide for help, and he takes her to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

Dora Madison

as Firefighter Candidate Jimmy Borrelli (seasons 4–5). He was introduced in the fourth-season premiere "Let It Burn" as the new candidate assigned to Truck 81. He briefly dates Jessica "Chilli" Chilton in the fourth season and also briefly replaces her as a paramedic on Ambulance 61 after she is fired. After his brother dies in a collapsed building, he blames Chief Boden and transfers back to Truck 81. He is critically injured by an explosion early in the fifth season that leaves him requiring round-the-clock care, thus ending his firefighting career.

Steven R. McQueen

as Firefighter Stella Kidd: Truck 81 (recurring season 4; main season 5 – present). Jimmy Borelli's replacement on Truck 81. She briefly replaces Otis as driver in season six and permanently replaces him after his death in season eight. She is promoted to Lieutenant in the ninth-season episode "What Comes Next" after passing the exams. In the fourth-season finale, "Superhero", she begins dating Lieutenant Kelly Severide. In the ninth-season episode "A White-Knuckle Panic", they become engaged. In the last episode of tenth season, they get married.

Miranda Rae Mayo

as Paramedic Emily Foster, Ambulance 61 (seasons 7–8).[8][9] A former medical student who replaces Gabriela Dawson on Ambulance 61. In the eighth-season finale "51's Original Bell", she re-applies to medical school, and in the ninth-season premiere "Rattle Second City", Brett says that she was accepted back and is working in a COVID-19 ward.

Annie Ilonzeh

as Firefighter Candidate Blake Gallo, Truck 81 (seasons 8–12).[10] Firehouse 51's latest recruit on Truck 81, replacing Brian "Otis" Zvonecek after his death. Gallo became a firefighter after he lost his entire family in a house fire. In November 2023, it was revealed that Gallo will leave the series after the season 12 premiere, which reveals that he has opted to move to Michigan to be near his relatives.[11]

Alberto Rosende

as Firefighter Candidate Darren Ritter, Engine 51 (recurring seasons 7–8; main season 9 – present).[12] After Herrmann forcibly transfers Firefighter Barns for his disrespect, Mouch suggests Ritter as a replacement. Previously with Engine 37, Mouch helped him when he froze up during a fire, and he ended up making his first save. He is openly gay, has a boyfriend named Eric, and is the owner of Tuesday the Dalmatian.

Daniel Kyri

as Paramedic Gianna Mackey, Ambulance 61 (season 9). Emily Foster's replacement on Ambulance 61. Gianna grew up in the same neighborhood as Joe Cruz, who recommended her for the job after Foster left and is very protective of her.[13] She quickly makes a good impression on her co-workers and enters a casual relationship with Blake Gallo. In the ninth-season episode "Double Red", she transfers out of Firehouse 51 after being offered a spot at a new house for better advancement opportunities.

Adriyan Rae

Hanako Greensmith as Paramedic Violet Mikami (recurring seasons 8–9; main season 10 – present). A paramedic from Firehouse 20 and Blake Gallo's old rival from the fire academy. She and Gallo briefly date in season eight. In season nine, Chief Boden asks her to temporarily transfer to Firehouse 51 to fill the spot on Ambulance 61 after Gianna Mackey leaves, and Brett soon convinces her to transfer to Firehouse 51 permanently. Following Sylvie Brett's departure in the Season 12 episode "Port in the Storm", Violet was promoted to Paramedic in Charge (PIC).

[14]

"8:30 PM" (Chicago P.D. Season 1, Episode 12) – In the first crossover with P.D., beginning on "A Dark Day", an explosion occurs at Chicago Med, sending the fire and police departments in a race against the clock to find the culprits.

"Chicago Crossover" (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 16, Episode 7) / "They'll Have to Go Through Me" (Chicago P.D. Season 2, Episode 7) – In the first crossover with P.D. and SVU, beginning on "Nobody Touches Anything", a routine house fire uncovers evidence of a spanning from Chicago to New York.[42]

pedophile ring

"A Little Devil Complex" (Chicago P.D. Season 2, Episode 13) – In the second crossover with P.D., beginning on "Three Bells", Firehouse 51 and Intelligence search for the serial arsonist who killed Leslie Shay.

[43]

"The Number of Rats" (Chicago P.D. Season 2, Episode 20) / "Daydream Believer" (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 16, Episode 20) – In the second crossover with P.D. and SVU, beginning on "We Called Her Jellybean", a fire uncovers evidence of a serial arsonist suspected of committing rape and murder in Chicago and New York.[45]

[44]

"Malignant" (Chicago Med Season 1, Episode 5) / "Now I'm God" (Chicago P.D. Season 3, Episode 10) – In the first crossover with Med and P.D., beginning on "The Beating Heart", a member of Firehouse 51 is rushed to Chicago Med for a stabbing while an attempted suicide uncovers four cases of chemo overdose, leading to an investigation that becomes personal for Voight.

"Don't Bury This Case" (Chicago P.D. Season 4, Episode 9) – In the third crossover with P.D., beginning on "Some Make It, Some Don't", Severide becomes the prime suspect in a case of vehicular manslaughter.

"Emotional Proximity" (Chicago P.D. Season 4, Episode 16) / "Fake" (Chicago Justice Season 1, Episode 1) – In the only crossover with P.D. and Justice, beginning on "Deathtrap", the prime suspect in a warehouse fire is put on trial.

"Profiles" (Chicago P.D. Season 5, Episode 16) – In the fourth crossover with P.D., concluding on "Hiding Not Seeking", Firehouse 51 helps Intelligence investigate a series of bombings targeting members of the media.

"When to Let Go" (Chicago Med Season 4, Episode 2) / "Endings" (Chicago P.D. Season 6, Episode 2) – In the second crossover with Med and P.D., beginning on "Going to War", the victims of an apartment complex fire are rushed into Chicago Med and Intelligence races to find the culprit.

"Good Men" (Chicago P.D. Season 6, Episode 15) – In the fifth crossover with P.D., beginning on "What I Saw", Cruz helps Intelligence track down robbers who have been using a firehouse lockbox key.

"Burden of Truth" (Chicago P.D. Season 7, Episode 15) – In the sixth crossover with P.D., beginning on "Off the Grid", Sean Roman gets involved in the investigation of opioid overdoses connected to his sister.

[46]

"" (Chicago Fire Season 8, Episode 4/Chicago Med Season 5, Episode 4/Chicago P.D. Season 7, Episode 4) – In the third crossover with Med and P.D., a bioterrorist spreads a deadly bacteria throughout Chicago.

Infection

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

The series pilot, co-written by creators Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, was filmed in Chicago and, according to an NBC representative, the series would continue to be filmed there.[47] Producer John L. Roman was involved from the beginning having worked with the Chicago Fire Department and Deputy District Chief Steve "Chik" Chikerotis on Backdraft.[48] Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel made an appearance in the series' pilot episode. Emanuel stated: "It's easier being mayor than playing mayor. I told them I'd do it under one condition: the TV show is making an investment to the Firefighters' Widows and Orphans Fund."[49]


The title "Chicago Fire" sparked some confusion in the show's first season due to it duplicating the name of a local professional soccer team, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club (later renamed Chicago Fire FC). Actor Taylor Kinney has said "If you (say) 'We're working on Chicago Fire,' they ask you if you're a soccer player."[50] Producer Dick Wolf hoped that fans of the team might watch the show.[50] The Chicago Fire sports team accepted the shared name and showed the series premiere on October 2, 2012, at Toyota Park after a game with the Philadelphia Union.[51]


The network placed an order for the series in May 2012.[52] After receiving an additional script order in October, Chicago Fire was picked up for a full season on November 8, 2012.[53][54] On January 29, 2013, Chicago Fire had its episode total increased from 22 to 23.[55] One week later, on February 6, 2013, Chicago Fire received one more episode, giving it a total of 24 episodes for season one.[56] The pilot episode had an early release at NBC.com, before the series' premiere on television.[57]


On November 9, 2015, NBC renewed the series for a fifth season.[58][59] The season premiered on October 11, 2016.[60]


On May 9, 2018, NBC renewed the series for a seventh season,[61] which premiered on September 26, 2018.[62] On February 26, 2019, NBC renewed the series for an eighth season,[63] which premiered on September 25, 2019.[64] In February 2020, the series was renewed for its ninth, tenth, and eleventh season.[65] The tenth season premiered on September 22, 2021.[66] The eleventh season premiered on September 21, 2022.[67] On April 10, 2023, NBC renewed the series for a twelfth season,[2] which premiered on January 17, 2024.[3] On March 21, 2024, NBC renewed the series for a thirteenth season.[4]

Filming[edit]

The building used in the show for the firehouse exteriors is a working Chicago Fire Department firehouse, and is the headquarters of Engine 18, located at 1360 South Blue Island Avenue at Maxwell Street, between 13th & Racine. Housed here is ALS Engine 18, 2–2–1 (Deputy District Chief – 1st District), 2–1–21 (1st District Chief), 6–4–16 (High-Rise Response Unit), and ALS Ambulance 65. The interiors of Firehouse 51 are filmed at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. The station house used for exteriors in Chicago PD is just a few blocks away at 949 West Maxwell Street at Morgan Street (interiors likewise filmed at Cinespace).


Chicago artist and retired firefighter Lee J. Kowalski's oil paintings of fire scenes can be spotted in several episodes.


Molly's, a small bar owned by Herrmann, Dawson and Mouch, was filmed at Lotties in Bucktown.[68][69] Filming no longer takes place on location to avoid disrupting business. Instead, the interior and exterior surroundings were recreated at Cinespace.[70]


In November 2012, WGN-TV reported a plane crash at 29th and Martin Luther King Drive on their morning newscast and showed live footage for a few minutes before realizing it was merely a set piece staged for Chicago Fire and not an actual emergency situation.[71]


On March 13, 2020, Universal Television shut down production on the series due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[72]


Production on the series was temporarily halted on September 14, 2022, after a shooting occurred near the set.[73]

on Wolf Entertainment

Official website

on NBC

Official website

at IMDb

Chicago Fire