Chicago Fire

Plot

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 Engine 51, Truck 81, Rescue Squad 3 and Ambulance 61.

Cast

Jesse Spencer as Captain Matthew "Matt" Casey, Truck Company 81 (seasons 1–10; guest seasons 11–12), a 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 a skilled handyman and carpenter, freelancing 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 1 and, from seasons 5 to 7, was married to Gabriela Dawson. In season 6, he is promoted to captain. In the season 9 finale, he begins dating paramedic Sylvie Brett. In season 10, Casey moves to Oregon to take care of Andrew Darden's sons while maintaining a long-distance relationship with Brett. He later returns in the season finale to attend Severide and Kidd's wedding. In the season 11 premiere, Brett breaks up with him, feeling that they had grown apart due to the distance. In the season 11 finale, he returns to Chicago and proposes to Sylvie. They married in season 12.

Taylor Kinney as Captain Kelly Severide, Rescue Squad 3, a Lieutenant at Firehouse 51, and the officer in charge of Squad 3. In contrast to Casey, he is charismatic and portrayed as something of a "ladies' man". He and Casey have been friends since their days at the CFD Academy. His father was Battalion Chief Benny Severide, a longtime friend of Boden and Henry Mills, father of Candidate Peter Mills. In the season 4 finale, he begins dating Stella Kidd. In season 9, they become engaged. In season 10, they get married. In season 14, he attempts to succeed Dom Pascal as Firehouse 51's Battalion Chief. In the season 14 finale, Chief Pascal informed him that his promotion to Captain had gone through. Severide was given two options: Become deputy to Captain Van Meter at OFI, or become the commanding officer at 51.

Monica Raymund as Paramedic in Charge Gabriela "Gabby" Dawson, Ambulance 61 (seasons 1–6; guest seasons 7–8), the younger sister of Detective Antonio Dawson. Dawson is one of the few women at 51 and is usually treated as a sister by the men. She is the Paramedic in Charge of Ambulance 61, but also attends fire academy training to become a firefighter and joins Truck 81. She later transfers back to Ambulance 61 to provide cover for Jimmy Borelli and becomes a foster parent. In season 1, she briefly dates Peter Mills. From seasons 5 to 7, she was married to Casey. In the season 6 finale, she left Chicago to head a rescue-and-relief unit in Puerto Rico, but briefly returned to say goodbye to Casey in the season 7 premiere and again for a charity ball in season 8.

Episodes

Crossovers

"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 pedophile ring spanning from Chicago to New York.

"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.

"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.

"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.

Production

Development

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. 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. 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."

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." Producer Dick Wolf hoped that fans of the team might watch the show. 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.

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

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

On May 9, 2018, NBC renewed the series for a seventh season, which premiered on September 26, 2018. On February 26, 2019, NBC renewed the series for an eighth season, which premiered on September 25, 2019. In February 2020, the series was renewed for its ninth, tenth, and eleventh season. The tenth season premiered on September 22, 2021. The eleventh season premiered on September 21, 2022. On April 10, 2023, NBC renewed the series for a twelfth season, which premiered on January 17, 2024. On March 21, 2024, NBC renewed the series for a thirteenth season which premiered on September 25, 2024.

Filming

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. Filming no longer takes place on location to avoid disrupting business. Instead, the interior and exterior surroundings were recreated at Cinespace.

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.

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

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

Reception

Spin-offs

On March 27, 2013, NBC announced plans for a proposed spin-off of Chicago Fire, the police procedural drama Chicago P.D. that would involve the Chicago Police Department, the spin-off series being created and produced by Dick Wolf, with Derek Haas, Michael Brandt, and Matt Olmstead serving as executive producers. It premiered on January 8, 2014.

The show follows an Intelligence Unit of the police and is filmed entirely in Chicago. The main cast includes Jason Beghe, Jon Seda, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer, Patrick Flueger, Elias Koteas, Marina Squerciati, LaRoyce Hawkins and Archie Kao.

In February 2015, NBC announced plans to make another spin-off, the medical drama Chicago Med. A special backdoor pilot episode of the show aired during Chicago Fire's third season. On May 1, 2015, Chicago Med was officially ordered to a series, starring Oliver Platt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Nick Gehlfuss, Yaya DaCosta, Torrey DeVitto, Rachel DiPillo, Marlyne Barrett, Colin Donnell and Brian Tee. It premiered on November 17, 2015.

Chicago Fire was the first show of what would become the Chicago franchise. Additionally, Chicago P.D. aired a backdoor pilot of the short-lived legal drama series Chicago Justice, which ran from March 1, to May 14, 2017.

Broadcast and streaming

Chicago Fire is broadcast by NBC in the United States. The latest five episodes of Chicago Fire are available on Hulu with a subscription. Season 4 is available on NBC.com and the NBC app with a cable subscription. All episodes are available from electronic sell-through platforms such as iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Vudu. The series is available for streaming on Peacock along with Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

In Canada, the series aired on Global for seven seasons, then moved to Citytv.

In Malaysia, the series aired on PRIMEtime for eight seasons, then moved to HITS Now.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series airs as part of the One Chicago block 8pm through 11pm. Earlier seasons were shown on the now defunct Universal channel before moving to Sky Witness. All episodes are available +7 days and on demand.

Syndication

Ion Television has acquired the off-network rights to air the series. Episodes began airing in June 2021. MyNetworkTV also acquired the off-network rights to air the series. Episodes began airing in September 2021. Fellow NBCUniversal network USA also acquired the off-network rights to air the series. Episodes began airing in January 2022.