Big changes are coming to Chicago Fire in Season 14—and not everyone will make it through unscathed.
A sweeping cost-cutting initiative within the Chicago Fire Department will drive a major storyline in the upcoming season, leading to staff reductions, program eliminations, and intense internal restructuring. Showrunner Andrea Newman recently opened up about the direction the show is taking, confirming that real-world issues inspired the storyline.
“It’s very real to the CFD,” Newman told TV Line. “They’ve done this before—departments being gutted, resources slashed. That’s what we’re reflecting next season.”
A Storm Is Brewing at Firehouse 51
Unlike previous seasons where character exits were often connected to specific incidents or story arcs, this new season will mirror the chaos of budget cuts and bureaucratic shakeups that many public departments face in reality. And with that comes uncertainty for everyone.
“We didn’t bring in an auditor character to engineer exits,” Newman explained. “It’s just the nature of what’s happening—these things are in the zeitgeist. When mandates like this come down, the whole system gets shaken.”
In fact, she teased massive upheaval throughout the department. “We’re going to have a lot of turnover and a lot of craziness going on in the CFD from the top down. People will be cut. People will be moved. And the whole dynamic at Firehouse 51 will change.”
Who’s at Risk?
According to Newman, no one is truly safe this season. “You never know who might get fired,” she said. “There will be hellos, and there will be goodbyes.”
Some characters are already in a precarious position:
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Ritter (Daniel Kyri) and Carver (Jake Lockett) are expected to have smaller roles in Season 14—possibly setting the stage for their exits.
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Mouch (Christian Stolte) and Herrmann (David Eigenberg) are veteran firefighters who may face mandatory retirement.
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Chief Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) might also be on thin ice, especially with Herrmann stepping back from pursuing leadership.
These looming exits signal not just emotional farewells but also major shifts in team chemistry. The firehouse’s core dynamic will be tested like never before.
What’s Next for Firehouse 51?
Season 14 won’t just be about who stays and who goes—it will focus heavily on how the team holds together under pressure.
“The s**t really hits the fan this time,” Newman previously told TV Insider. “The season is about how our team navigates the madness while staying united like a family.”
With both heartbreak and new beginnings on the horizon, Season 14 is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally charged and unpredictable chapters in Chicago Fire history.
One thing is clear: Firehouse 51 is heading into a storm—and no one will come out the same.
