For over a decade, Chicago Fire has been turning up the heat on NBC, delivering heart-stopping rescues, sizzling romances, and the kind of found-family drama that keeps fans glued to the screen. But not every blaze in Firehouse 51 ends with a satisfying resolution—and sometimes, it’s the departures that leave the deepest scars.
Over the years, Chicago Fire has lost some of its most cherished characters, and too often, the exits felt like a hastily closed fire door—abrupt, undercooked, or simply unworthy of the legacy these characters built. From shocking deaths to quiet fade-outs, here are the seven goodbyes that still sting, years later.
7. Monica Raymund as Gabriela Dawson — Love Gone Cold
For six seasons, Gabriela Dawson was the beating heart of Firehouse 51—fearless on the job, passionate in love, and unafraid to stand her ground. Her marriage to Casey (Jesse Spencer) became a cornerstone of the series, making her sudden departure in Season 7 all the more jarring.
Instead of a grand farewell, Dawson simply left to do disaster relief work in Puerto Rico, her marriage quietly unraveling off-screen. For fans, it felt like a chapter ripped out mid-sentence—a heroine deserving of a blaze of glory instead got an unexplained ember.
6. Lauren German as Leslie Shay — A Shock That Still Hurts
When Season 2 ended with a storage room explosion, fans braced for a shake-up. But few expected the loss of Leslie Shay, the quick-witted paramedic whose bond with Severide (Taylor Kinney) was one of the show’s most genuine friendships.
Season 3 opened with her already gone, killed instantly in the blast. No chance for goodbyes, no heroic send-off—just grief and replacement. The move shocked viewers, but it also left an emotional void the series has never quite filled.
5. Rome Flynn as Derrick Gibson — The Mystery That Never Was
Introduced in Season 12, Derrick Gibson brought fresh energy and an intriguing backstory as a former boxer-turned-firefighter. His haunted past hinted at rich storytelling ahead—until, just six episodes later, he was gone.
Written out after admitting he wasn’t ready for the job, Gibson’s exit was less of a slow burn and more of a candle snuffed out. Fans barely had time to know him, let alone miss him.
4. Yuri Sardarov as Brian “Otis” Zvonecek — The Death That Changed Everything
Otis was more than comic relief; he was the glue between crews, a loyal friend, and the co-owner of Molly’s Bar. His sudden death in the Season 8 premiere—succumbing to injuries from a mattress factory fire—was gut-wrenching, especially as he used his final breath to say, “Brother” in Russian to Cruz.
It was an emotional high point for the series, but it also cut short a character with endless potential, leaving fans wishing he’d had more time.
3. Dora Madison as Jessica “Chili” Chilton — A Recovery Arc Denied
Chili entered in Season 3 with an upbeat attitude, but beneath the smile was a tragic backstory. Her Season 4 spiral into alcoholism was raw and real, yet just when it seemed like she might turn things around, Chief Boden fired her for drinking on the job.
The lack of follow-through on her recovery robbed viewers of a chance to see a rare redemption arc in Chicago Fire.
2. Charlie Barnett as Peter Mills — The Quiet Exit
Peter Mills began as the wide-eyed rookie and grew into a confident, skilled firefighter. His decision in Season 3 to leave and run his family’s restaurant came without major conflict, drama, or closure.
For a character so deeply tied to Firehouse 51, Mills’ low-key send-off felt like turning down the volume on a fire alarm mid-blare.
1. Steven R. McQueen as Jimmy Borrelli — A Career Cut Short
Borrelli’s journey from impulsive newcomer to dependable firefighter was one of steady growth—until one call ended everything. Losing an eye in an accident, Borrelli’s career ended instantly, and he was never seen again.
No follow-up on his recovery, no closure with his colleagues—just silence. It was the kind of abrupt stop that leaves viewers staring at the screen, waiting for a scene that never comes.
The Pattern That Keeps Repeating
What unites these departures isn’t just who left, but how they left. In a series where drama thrives on emotional investment, many exits have lacked the buildup or aftermath that could have honored the characters’ journeys.
In Chicago Fire, not every blaze is a five-alarm fire—sometimes, it’s a slow, smoldering disappointment that lingers long after the flames die down.
