The start of a new season at Firehouse 51 is never quiet, but Chicago Fire Season 14 has kicked off with one of the most significant cast shuffles in the show’s recent history. Beyond the emotional wreckage of the Stellaride baby twist, the show’s narrative is being fundamentally restructured by the departures and arrivals of key personnel.
Showrunner Andrea Newman has been upfront about the changes, confirming that several familiar faces are making their exits, a compelling new firefighter is joining the ranks, and one beloved character is making a brief, crucial return.
For fans of the One Chicago stalwart, these changes signal a fresh, potentially jarring new era for the tight-knit family of Firehouse 51.
The Exits: Three Major Departures
The biggest shakeup comes in the form of three confirmed departures. While one was an anticipated move, the other two signal a deep shift in the firehouse hierarchy and emotional dynamics.
1. Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter
Darren Ritter’s time at Firehouse 51 is coming to a close. After joining in Season 7, the openly gay firefighter became a fixture on Engine 51, providing both skill on calls and emotional stability, often serving as a sounding board for his friends, Violet and Mouch.
The Exit Arc: Ritter’s departure is being carefully managed through a final, emotional storyline in the Season 14 premiere and early episodes. Showrunner Andrea Newman explained that Ritter’s journey involves him finally prioritizing his personal happiness. His arc mirrors that of other characters who have had to choose love and stability over the unrelenting demands of Chicago Fire.
Newman highlighted a key scene where Ritter’s close friend Violet Mikami encourages him to “take a moment” for himself, learning from her own past mistakes with Carver. This is positioned as an earned exit for a character who finally finds the courage to pursue a stable life outside of the firehouse’s constant chaos. While sad for fans, it offers a sense of closure and hope for the character.
2. Jake Lockett as Sam Carver (Semi-Exit)
Sam Carver’s story took a turbulent turn last season, culminating in a seemingly final decision to leave Chicago for Denver to focus on his sobriety and healing, only to return for a passionate moment with Violet.
The Limited Return: Newman confirmed that Jake Lockett will not be a series regular in Season 14. However, she reassured fans that the Carver-Violet storyline is not fully dead yet. Lockett is confirmed to return for a limited number of episodes to conclude his ongoing story and provide closure for his relationship with Violet, who remains at 51.
This situation leaves Violet in a precarious emotional spot, having to decide if the man she loves can overcome his past trauma while physically being absent from the Firehouse 51 family. It’s an effective way to keep the emotional tension high without committing the character to a full-time presence.
3. Michael Bradway as Damon
The newest recruit from Season 13, Damon, made a brief but memorable splash before the season’s end. However, Bradway’s exit was confirmed shortly after the Season 13 finale.
The Farewell: Damon’s absence is explained quickly in the Season 14 premiere, with the character having transferred to another firehouse. This departure, reportedly due to the actor pursuing other projects, is used as a narrative device, with other firefighters, like Mouch, lamenting the constant turnover and reminding the audience that the bonds at 51 are hard-won and often temporary.
The Arrivals: A New Face on Truck 81
With three characters gone or reduced, the door is open for a fresh face to stir the pot, and Truck 81 is getting a new crew member who is immediately creating friction.
1. Brandon Larracuente as Sal Vasquez
Joining the ensemble as a new firefighter is Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente). He’s described as a firefighter with a mysterious family history and a background that includes a stint at the police academy before joining the CFD.
Immediate Friction: Vasquez doesn’t get a warm welcome. His presence causes immediate unease, particularly with Lieutenant Stella Kidd. He rubs her the wrong way by acting without waiting for orders, prompting questions about his professionalism and reliability.
Newman notes that Vasquez brings his “baggage” with him, similar to how Severide carried the shadow of his first-responder father. The writers are setting up a major storyline where Stella will be tasked with molding this new, challenging subordinate.
“This is going to be a whole new challenge for her. This is going to be a different kind of a firefighter,” Newman said. “It’s sort of like she was born to be the lieutenant to Sal Vasquez, this will evolve her and evolve Sal Vasquez at the same time.”
Vasquez’s introduction—a potentially problematic subordinate for Stella and a romantic interest for Novak—ensures that the power structure on Truck 81 is destabilized, forcing Stella to prove her leadership in a new, frustrating way.
The Promotion: An Established Leader Steps Up
While not a new face, a major promotion will dramatically alter the internal dynamics and office space of Firehouse 51, providing a solid counterpoint to the dramatic exits.
1. Christian Stolte as Lieutenant Randy “Mouch” McHolland
The beloved, veteran firefighter Mouch finally took his Lieutenant’s exam and passed!
The New Lieutenant: Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) agrees to step down from his temporary Lieutenant spot to make way for Mouch, who is now the Lieutenant of Engine 51.
However, the transition is not seamless. Herrmann, reluctant to give up the title entirely, only agrees to share his office with Mouch, ensuring that the two beloved veterans will continue to clash over workspace, leadership style, and the engine crew’s direction. This promotion offers a lighter, humorous subplot amid the season’s heavier emotional themes, ensuring that the unique, quirky heart of Firehouse 51 remains intact.
The Future of Firehouse 51
Chicago Fire Season 14 is clearly positioning itself as a season of necessary evolution. The departures of Ritter, Damon, and the limited availability of Carver clear the deck for new narratives. The arrivals of the challenging Vasquez and the newly promoted Lieutenant Mouch guarantee that the professional and personal landscapes of the firehouse will be fundamentally changed.
With Stella and Severide also navigating their unexpected journey toward adopting a teenager, the emotional stakes are arguably higher than they’ve ever been. The new configuration of the cast ensures that the remaining core characters—especially Stella, Severide, and Violet—will be forced into new roles, facing new forms of pressure, and ultimately, defining what it means to be a family in the face of constant change.
