
No one expected a Chicago Fire episode to melt actual filming equipment—but that’s exactly what happened during the most ambitious One Chicago crossover to date.
The three-hour television event, nicknamed “In the Trenches,” aired in January 2025 and united Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. in one explosive storyline. While fans were already hyped for the return of beloved characters and a massive city-wide emergency, no one expected real flames to turn the shoot into something dangerously authentic.
In one of the largest set pieces ever attempted in One Chicago history, Firehouse 51 responded to a blaze in a high-rise building—complete with multiple floors set ablaze using practical fire effects. The blaze was so intense that, according to crew members, two drones used to film aerial shots were damaged mid-air from the heat.
“They just started malfunctioning in the sky,” said one production assistant. “We didn’t plan for the real fire to get that wild. We had safety controls in place, but it became clear—this wasn’t just TV fire anymore.”
For Hanako Greensmith’s Violet Mikami, the scene was more than just a special effect. Her character had to pull an unconscious civilian out from a collapsing hallway with zero visibility. “We trained for weeks,” she revealed in an interview. “But when the heat hit your face, and all you hear is the alarm and shouting—it felt terrifyingly real.”
The fire scene wasn’t the only intensity on set.
Chicago P.D. detectives arrived later in the episode, hinting that the fire might not have been accidental. That’s when things really escalated. Voight’s team discovered signs of tampering with the sprinkler system. Meanwhile, Chicago Med’s Archer and Marcel were working on multiple burn victims under chaotic conditions.
All three shows converged in a single hospital hallway—doctors, detectives, and firefighters moving in unison, trying to save lives and find the truth behind the blaze.
Behind the scenes, the creators said this was the closest they’ve ever come to filming a full-length feature. “It was like directing a Marvel film, but with fire trucks and emotional trauma,” showrunner Andrea Newman joked.
Fan response? Overwhelming.
The crossover quickly trended on social media, with fans dubbing it “Avengers: Chicago Edition.” Many praised the scale, the tension, and the emotional stakes, particularly the surprising moment when Violet nearly collapses from smoke inhalation while refusing to leave a victim behind.
But it was the real-life drone incident that took fans by storm. Photos from the crew surfaced online showing melted plastic and scorched rotors. “We underestimated how real the fire would become,” one drone operator admitted.
Despite the damage, the risk paid off.
The crossover was the highest-rated One Chicago event in two years and opened the door for future mega-episodes. Even cast members say they’re ready to go even bigger next time—though maybe with a few more fireproof drones.