Chicago Fire season 14 was yet another season of change for Firehouse 51. As has been the case in many of the show’s recent seasons, there were a lot of comings and goings leading to some really surprising cast exits.
00:00
00:00
01:31
While perhaps not surprising in their nature, as we saw them coming due to word of the actors’ departures breaking online before the characters were written out of the show, these exits still managed to take the fandom by surprise. A large part of this surprise came from the fact that we just couldn’t believe that these amazing characters and actors were written out of the show, and so suddenly at that.
Now that Chicago Fire season 14 is complete, let’s take a look back at the four Chicago Fire cast exits that we still can’t believe happened, starting with the one that stings most because we never got a proper goodbye.
Michael Bradway as Jack Damon
Our first major cast exit came via the exit of Michael Bradway, whose Jack Damon was transferred to another firehouse between the events of the season 13 finale and the season 14 premiere. Damon was written out of the show after Bradway stepped away from the series to film Prime Video’s Every Year After, which resulted in the sudden exit storyline for his character.
What was so disappointing about Damon’s exit was the sudden nature. We knew that Bradway was likely leaving the show the minute he was cast in Every Year After, but we hoped that we’d at least get a final goodbye. Instead, we got a quick one-line update about Damon transferring to another firehouse, and then it was as if he never existed.
The show failed to bring Damon up at any point through the season, failing to even mention him when Severide was facing off against Chief Hopkins. It was particularly disappointing given that the storyline saw Hopkins coming for Severide’s job due to his history with Benny, who happens to be Damon’s dad as well. It was a perfect opportunity to bring Damon back, and it was a shame the show wasn’t able to make it happen or even mention Damon through the story arc.
Jake Lockett as Sam Carver
Of the season 14 cast exits, Jake Lockett’s wasn’t entirely surprising in the sense that we knew he was exiting the show before season 13 even came to an end. Word broke that he was one of two actors leaving the show ahead of season 14, and then the season 13 finale actually introduced his exit storyline by revealing he had put in a request to transfer to a firehouse in Denver to get a fresh start.
Carver exited the show off-camera but would eventually drop in for a guest appearance that ended up doing more harm than good.
When Carver returned, it just drudged up all the unresolved feelings we had about his exit, particularly those connected to his relationship with Violet. The show took us on quite a rollercoaster ride with the couple, with season 13 going the slow-burn route, which we thought was going to end with the pair finding their way back to one another. That happened, but it came with the news that Carver was leaving town, which quickly put out the rekindled flame.
It feels like Carver had just hit his stride at 51 and we were eager to see if he and Violet could find happiness with a second chance, but sadly his exit robbed us of that opportunity. Hopefully, Carver might return in the future, but it’s not something we see being in the cards.
Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter
Daniel Kyri’s exit was also announced ahead of the season 13 finale; however, unlike with Jake Lockett, the show did not lay the groundwork for his exit in the finale. There was absolutely no hint that Ritter was looking to leave town, and his character was not in any danger as the season ended, leaving fans to wonder how the show would write him out.
Thankfully, the writers managed to bring Kyri back for a few episodes at the top of season 14 to give Ritter an exit storyline. Said exit storyline would come in the form of Ritter choosing to move to New York after his longtime boyfriend, Dwayne, was injured in the line of duty. The storyline was sudden and unexpected, but it gave Ritter a rare happy ending in his exit as we knew that he was moving to be with Dwayne.
What hurt so much about his exit, though, was knowing the untapped potential the character had that was never fully realized during his time on the show. Ritter was never given the chance to shine like so many of his fellow firefighters at 51, often being used as a background character, which was such a criminal move by the writers—especially considering that Ritter was the show’s sole LGBTQ character and they missed so many opportunities to tell impactful and meaningful storylines through the character.
Ritter deserved so much better, and we wish the show had taken the chance to give him his time in the spotlight rather than writing him off due to budget cuts. This was a character who brought a much-needed level of diversity to the show, and it’s disappointing that when it came time to write two characters out, it was Ritter that ended up on the chopping block.
Jeanine Mason as Lucy Zambetti
Our final shocking exit came via a character we didn’t even expect to meet in season 14. Jeanine Mason debuted late in season 14 as Lucy Zambetti, who came to Firehouse 51 in the wake of Chief Pascal’s firing with the CFD messed up their paperwork in hiring her as Pascal’s assistant after his firing.
Upon arriving at 51, Lucy quickly won over fans and those at 51 as she immersed herself in the firehouse and became a strong ally for Severide. In fact, it was her allegiance to Severide that ended up costing her her job after Lucy signed off on Kidd’s request for the file connected to the call that led Benny to reprimand Hopkins. Her going behind Hopkins’ back and giving his approval for the CFD files being released led to him firing her on the spot.
We hoped that Lucy would fight to get her job back and that with Hopkins exiting 51, she might have a chance to make her way back to 51; however, that proved not to be the case. Lucy was fired, and the character disappeared immediately after.
The Big One | Chicago Fire
The Big One | Chicago Fire
Firehouse 51 Faces Its Most Dangerous Call Yet
Firehouse 51 has faced collapsing buildings, raging fires, devastating explosions and impossible rescues, but nothing can truly prepare Chicago’s firefighters for the big one.
In a dramatic new chapter of Chicago Fire, a seemingly routine emergency escalates into a major disaster, pushing the members of Firehouse 51 to their physical and emotional limits. With lives hanging in the balance and danger spreading faster than anyone can control, the firefighters are forced to make split-second decisions that could determine who makes it home.
For the crew, this is more than another difficult shift.
It is the kind of emergency firefighters train for their entire careers.
And when the call finally comes, there is no room for hesitation.
The Alarm That Changes Everything
The shift at Firehouse 51 begins like any other.
The firefighters go about their usual routines, unaware that they are moments away from one of the most demanding emergencies they have ever encountered.
Then the alarm sounds.
At first, the details appear unclear. Dispatch reports a serious incident, but the true scale of the situation only becomes apparent when the crew reaches the scene.
What they find is chaos.
Smoke fills the area.
People are trapped.
Structures have become unstable.
And the danger is continuing to grow.
The firefighters immediately split into teams, each with a specific objective.
Some move toward the most obvious victims.
Others begin searching for anyone who may be trapped inside.
Meanwhile, command has to make an agonising decision about how far the rescue operation can safely go.
Because this time, saving someone else could mean putting a firefighter’s own life at risk.
Firehouse 51 Goes Into Rescue Mode
When disaster strikes, there is no time for fear.
That is one of the defining qualities of Firehouse 51.
The crew knows exactly what is expected of them, even when the situation is changing by the second.
Firefighters move into the danger zone while paramedics prepare outside.
Every second matters.
A trapped victim may only have minutes before conditions become fatal.
A fire can spread unexpectedly.
A damaged structure can collapse without warning.
And one mistake can turn a rescue into another emergency.
The intensity of the situation forces the team to rely on one another more than ever.
Years of working together have taught them how to communicate without wasting precious time.
A glance can be enough.
A shouted warning can change the entire plan.
But even the most experienced firefighters can be caught off guard.
And the big one is about to test every assumption they have made.
A Firefighter Is Put In Serious Danger
The situation takes a terrifying turn when one of Firehouse 51’s own is suddenly placed in danger.
A rescue operation that initially appears to be under control goes wrong.
Something shifts.
A structure becomes unstable.
Or a sudden flare-up cuts off the firefighter’s escape route.
For the crew outside, the fear is immediate.
They are accustomed to being the people who arrive to save others.
Now one of their own needs rescuing.
The emotional stakes instantly change.
Command has to decide whether to send another firefighter into an already dangerous area.
Waiting could mean losing a colleague.
Moving too quickly could create another casualty.
There may be no perfect choice.
Only the least dangerous one.
The Paramedics Face Their Own Crisis
While the firefighters battle the physical danger, the paramedics face a different kind of pressure.
Victims begin arriving faster than they can be treated.
Some injuries are relatively minor.
Others are critical.
Medical decisions have to be made immediately.
Who receives treatment first?
Who can be moved?
Who needs immediate transport?
And what happens when there are more patients than available resources?
The medical team has to remain focused even as the emotional intensity of the disaster grows.
For the paramedics, the hardest part may be knowing that not everyone can receive the attention they desperately need at the same time.
Every decision carries consequences.
Personal Conflicts Are Put Aside
The firefighters of Firehouse 51 are not always in complete agreement.
They have different personalities, different experiences and different ways of approaching danger.
But during a major emergency, personal disagreements become irrelevant.
Whatever conflict existed before the call has to wait.
The crew has one objective: save lives.
That sense of unity becomes one of the most powerful aspects of the storyline.
Characters who may have been struggling with personal problems suddenly find themselves relying on one another.
A firefighter who has been questioning their abilities gets an opportunity to prove themselves.
Someone who has been carrying emotional baggage has no choice but to put it aside.
And a character who normally avoids asking for help may finally have to admit that they cannot do everything alone.
A Difficult Decision Changes The Rescue
As the disaster develops, the crew discovers that their original rescue plan is no longer possible.
They need another approach.
That means someone must make a difficult decision.
Do they continue with a dangerous rescue attempt?
Do they wait for additional resources?
Or do they risk entering an unstable area because waiting could cost a victim their life?
The decision could become one of the defining moments of the episode.
Firefighters understand the risks better than anyone.
But understanding the danger does not make it easier to walk away from someone who needs help.
This is the contradiction at the heart of their profession.
They know they cannot save everyone.
They also refuse to stop trying.
The Human Cost Of The Big One
Even after the immediate danger is brought under control, the consequences will remain.
Large-scale emergencies do not simply disappear when the flames are extinguished.
There are families waiting for news.
There are victims trying to understand what happened.
There are firefighters replaying their decisions.
And there are people wondering whether they could have done something differently.
For Firehouse 51, the aftermath may be just as emotional as the rescue itself.
A firefighter could question whether they made the right call.
Another may struggle with the memory of a victim they could not save.
Someone else may realise just how close they came to losing a colleague.
These moments allow Chicago Fire to move beyond spectacle and explore the emotional reality of emergency work.
The Firehouse Comes Together
In the aftermath, Firehouse 51 becomes more than a workplace.
It becomes a support system.
The firefighters understand what their colleagues have experienced because they were there.
They do not need long explanations.
Sometimes sitting together in silence is enough.
Other times, difficult conversations have to happen.
Someone may finally admit that they were frightened.
Another may reveal that they are struggling.
And the team has to recognise that courage does not mean pretending to be unaffected.
The strongest firefighters are often the ones willing to admit when they need support.
What The Big One Means For Firehouse 51
The disaster could leave a lasting mark on the entire team.
The firefighters may return to work, answer new calls and continue doing what they have always done.
But they will remember this one.
Because every firefighter has a call they never forget.
For some, it is the victim they could not reach.
For others, it is the moment they almost lost a colleague.
And sometimes it is the emergency that changes the way they look at their own mortality.
The big one could become that call for Firehouse 51.
What Happens Next?
The aftermath promises to create new emotional challenges for the firefighters and paramedics.
Some may emerge stronger.
Others may realise that they need to make changes in their personal lives.
Relationships could be affected as loved ones struggle with the dangers their family members face every day.
And the crew may become even more protective of one another after coming so close to disaster.
For Firehouse 51, the big one will eventually become another story they tell.
But that does not mean it will be forgotten.
The firefighters will continue answering alarms.
They will continue running toward danger while everyone else runs away.
They will continue saving lives.
Yet every member of the crew will know that the next call could be just as dangerous.
Because in Chicago, emergencies do not wait for anyone to be ready.
And for Firehouse 51, the biggest test may not be surviving the flames.
It may be finding the strength to walk back into the firehouse, face the next alarm and do it all over again.
Be the first to comment on this article!