For over a decade, Firehouse 51 has stood as the unwavering heart of the One Chicago franchise. Audiences tune in every week to watch their favorite firefighters, paramedics, and rescue squad members face down life-threatening emergencies, forge deep bonds, and occasionally, fall in love.
But in a high-stakes job like firefighting, not every character gets to stay forever. The nature of a long-running procedural drama, coupled with actors’ desires for new creative challenges, has led to some truly shocking and heartbreaking departures over the years.
From original cast members who anchored the show for a decade to recent newcomers caught in network budget cuts, here is a comprehensive look at all the major actors who have said an emotional goodbye to the family at Firehouse 51.
The Original Icons: Pioneers of Firehouse 51
The earliest departures often sting the most, particularly when they involve actors who helped build the world of Chicago Fire from the very first episode.
Jesse Spencer as Lieutenant Matt Casey (Seasons 1–10)
For nearly ten seasons and an impressive 200 episodes, Jesse Spencer’s Matt Casey was the stoic, reliable anchor of Truck 81 and the emotional core of the series.
- The Exit: Casey left Firehouse 51 in Season 10 to move to Oregon and become the long-term legal guardian for the teenage sons of his late best friend, Andy Darden.
- The Reason: Spencer revealed he felt it was time to step away after a decade. “I was marking off these milestones and looking to the future… and it was time,” he explained, citing a desire to pursue other projects and take care of family members.
- The Return: Fans of the beloved “Brettsey” relationship (Casey and Sylvie Brett) were thrilled when Spencer returned for a few guest appearances, most recently in Season 12 for his emotional wedding to Sylvie Brett.
Monica Raymund as Paramedic Gabriela “Gabby” Dawson (Seasons 1–6)
As one half of the original powerhouse couple, “Dawsey,” Gabriela Dawson’s absence left a significant void in the firehouse.
- The Exit: Dawson decided to leave Chicago in the Season 6 finale to volunteer for a relief effort in Puerto Rico.
- The Reason: Monica Raymund chose to leave after her six-year contract ended to seek out new creative roles and move to Los Angeles. She wanted “to explore a different role, a different story,” telling the Chicago Tribune that the timing felt right to “plant some roots in Los Angeles.”
Lauren German as Paramedic Leslie Shay (Seasons 1–2)
Shay’s death remains one of the most painful and consequential losses in the show’s history, establishing the real dangers faced by first responders.
- The Exit: Shay was tragically killed in the line of duty during a building explosion in the Season 3 premiere.
- The Reason: Producers made a creative decision to amplify the show’s emotional stakes. Co-creator Matt Olmstead explained that they “had to show that the dangers are real.”
Yuriy Sardarov as Firefighter Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Seasons 1–8)
The death of Otis shook Firehouse 51 to its very foundation, impacting every single character.
- The Exit: Otis was gravely injured by a boiler explosion during a massive mattress factory fire and died in the hospital in the Season 8 premiere. His final words to Joe Cruz, “Brother, I will be with you always,” are legendary among fans.
- The Reason: The decision to kill off Otis was purely a creative choice by the showrunners, who felt they needed a death of a core character to remind the audience that the stakes were life and death. The character’s wide-ranging friendships ensured maximum emotional impact.
Recent Heavyweights and Emotional Goodbyes
As the show matured, so did its reasons for writing out major players, leading to both career-driven and story-driven exits.
Kara Killmer as Paramedic Sylvie Brett (Seasons 3–12)
Sylvie Brett stepped into a difficult role, replacing Leslie Shay, and ultimately became one of the most beloved paramedics on the show.
- The Exit: Brett departed in the middle of Season 12 after marrying Matt Casey and moving with him to Oregon to start their new family.
- The Reason: Kara Killmer felt her character’s arc had come to a “natural conclusion.” As the Casey-Brett “Brettsey” romance finally paid off with a wedding, her story was complete. She noted that she was ready to pursue other professional opportunities after a decade on the series.
Eamonn Walker as Chief Wallace Boden (Seasons 1–12)
Chief Boden was the spiritual and professional father figure for Firehouse 51. His departure was a massive shift in the series dynamic.
- The Exit: Boden accepted a promotion to CFD Deputy Commissioner in the Season 12 finale, stepping down from his role at the firehouse but remaining a presence in the larger Chicago Fire Department structure.
- The Reason: Eamonn Walker stepped down as a series regular to pursue other acting projects and was reportedly happy to return in a guest capacity. This “soft” exit allows the Chief to return occasionally, maintaining his connection to 51.
The Latest Shakeups: The Turbulent Season 14 Exits
Season 14 is shaping up to be one of the most turbulent seasons in recent memory, with a trio of cast members announcing their departures, largely due to external network factors.
Daniel Kyri as Firefighter Darren Ritter (Seasons 7–13)
The show’s most prominent LGBTQ+ character, Ritter had become an integral part of the team, known for his earnestness and close friendship with Carver.
- The Exit: Daniel Kyri exited at the end of Season 13.
- The Reason: Kyri’s departure, along with Jake Lockett’s, was reported to be part of a network effort to trim the show’s budget. Kyri confirmed the news, stating on Instagram, “I’ll miss this character, and it’s time to move on.” The show planned a proper on-screen send-off for Ritter in the early part of Season 14.
Jake Lockett as Firefighter Sam Carver (Seasons 11–13)
Carver was introduced as a new figure on Truck 81, quickly becoming Stella Kidd’s second-in-command and a major focus of recent storylines.
- The Exit: Carver’s character arc concluded at the end of Season 13 with him deciding to leave Chicago for a new opportunity.
- The Reason: Like Kyri, Jake Lockett’s exit was linked to budget cuts for Season 14, forcing the writers to dramatically reshape the team.
Michael Bradway as Firefighter Jack Damon (Season 12–13)
Introduced as Kelly Severide’s surprising half-brother, Damon’s story was cut short almost as soon as it began.
- The Exit: Damon is not returning for Season 14.
- The Reason: Bradway’s quick exit seems driven by both a desire to take a lead role in the new Prime Video series Every Summer After and the show’s need to adjust its roster.
Why The Firehouse Door Keeps Revolving
The reality of long-running television shows is that turnover is inevitable. For Chicago Fire, the reasons for these dramatic changes boil down to three main factors:
- Actor Ambition: Stars like Jesse Spencer, Monica Raymund, and Kara Killmer all cited their desire for new projects and career changes after spending six to ten years in one role.
- Creative Necessity: Deaths like Shay’s and Otis’s were deliberate moves by show creators to introduce realistic peril and raise the emotional stakes for the remaining characters.
- Network Economics: The most recent departures—Ritter, Carver, and Damon—highlight the harsh realities of keeping a long-running show financially sustainable, with budget cuts leading to the difficult decision to let key actors go.
While saying goodbye is always hard for the loyal fanbase, each departure opens the door for new stories and new faces, ensuring that Firehouse 51 remains a vibrant, ever-changing drama as it heads into Season 14. The constant threat of loss keeps the audience invested, confirming that the stakes for the heroes of the Chicago Fire Department are always incredibly real.
