Chicago Fire Season 14: What the New ‘Bad Boy’ Firefighter Means for Stella Kidd md06

Chicago Fire executive producer Andrea Newman has teased how season 14’s new “bad boy” firefighter will have an impact on Stella’s story. Chicago Fire season 14 will see the arrival of Sal Vasquez, played by Brandon Larracuente, a rebellious new firefighter whose arrival will make things somewhat unstable at Firehouse 51. This is especially the case for certain team members.

Speaking with TVLine, Newman explained how Sal’s arrival will play into the team dynamics for Chicago Fire season 14, especially when it comes to Stella Kidd. The executive producer unpacked how his rebellious nature will clash with Stella’s ability to keep people in line, while also teasing how he ties into a larger mystery in the season:

I think his relationship with his lieutenant, Kidd, in particular, is really fun. He’s kind of a rebel, he’s kind of a bad boy coming in. He’s had a lot of problems with authority, personally and professionally. [Stella has earned a reputation for her ability] to whip people who need a little help into shape. We’ll come to see that [Stella] might just be the person who can manage [Vasquez] and keep him employed in the CFD and bring all of his best qualities to the front and try not to kill him — and have him kill her! — in the meantime. There is a mystery as to why, when all of this is going on and all these layoffs are happening and brownouts and new policies happening in the city, why is this guy being moved, not only to a new position, but to what’s known as the best firehouse in the city? How did that happen? And why did that happen?

What Sal & Stella’s Story Means For Chicago Fire Season 14

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Sal, it seems, will be tied into a storyline involving a number of layoffs that are going to shake things up in the city’s fire department. Chicago Fire season 13 ended by planting the seeds for this story, something that somewhat explains why Firehouse 51 members Sam Carver and Darren Ritter will not be coming back in season 14.

The team shake-ups will also involve introducing Sal, whose presence is going to be difficult for everyone to adjust to at first. Given Newman’s statement, it sounds like Stella will have the closest relationship with him as she tries to get him in line. Just how quickly he’ll be willing to work with everyone else, though, remains unclear.

As the Chicago Fire cast changes, the dynamics between the team are destined to alter as well. Although it’s unclear just how much trouble Sal is going to bring when he first arrives, it’s likely something Stella can help him work through. Perhaps her husband, Kelly Severide, will also become involved if the new team member proves a handful.

Our Take On Sal & Stella’s Chicago Fire Season 14 Story

With plenty still unknown about how Sal’s arrival will shake things up for everyone, Stella is going to have plenty on her plate as she helps the team adjust to his arrival. The more he appears, though, the deeper his story is bound to grow, making it likely he’ll form an important bond with Stella as the show goes on.

His tie-in with the layoffs storyline will also be crucial to his arrival, since the Chicago Fire team will be adjusting to other changes as well when the show returns. As season 14 progresses, more is destined to be explored with how these shake-ups impact not just Sal and Stella, but everyone trying to continue doing their jobs.