‘Chicago Fire’s Finale Blaze: 3 Characters Who Could Die in Season 15 Premiere
What To Know
- The Season 14 finale of Chicago Fire ends with most of Firehouse 51 trapped inside a burning building.
- The episode also hints at potentially fatal exits for three characters.
Chicago Fire has killed off characters in the past, and it does focus on characters in a very dangerous line of work. The Season 14 finale certainly left quite a few of them in a very precarious position, but does that mean that someone has to die? Unfortunately, that may very well be the case.
The episode ended with almost everyone from the firehouse inside a structure fire. The only ones left outside were Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) — who was technically only visiting but tagging along and given the go-ahead to run things outside by the senior-most member of 51 — plus Severide (Taylor Kinney), and paramedics Violet (Hanako Greensmith) and Novak (Jocelyn Hudon). Truck was on its way down the ladder when things took a turn inside, and they were engulfed by a fireball. Meanwhile, inside were Squad and Engine. And as we saw that danger and heard the Mayday call, there were glimpses of Herrmann (David Eigenberg), Mouch (Christian Stolte), and Cruz’s (Joe Minoso) wives at home.
We also saw Isaiah (Hero Hunter), Severide and Kidd’s (Miranda Rae Mayo) foster son, who wants to live with them again. However, it was also reported ahead of the finale that Kinney and Mayo have signed on for Season 15, so we’re not worried about them. However, a major death could very well be what leads to Severide choosing CFD over OFI, with that choice he had to make in the finale. If 51 loses someone, he won’t want to leave them in the aftermath, even if investigating arson is in his blood, and we know how good he is at it.
We are worried about three of the characters who have been on Chicago Fire the longest, besides Severide; all have been part of the series since Season 1. Below, we take a look at why one of them could die when Season 15 premieres in the fall. After all, Violet does remember losing Hawkins, who died on the job, in the finale. That could’ve been foreshadowing another loss in a similar way.
Christopher Herrmann
Herrmann was on the ladder. He also just renewed his vows, and he and his wife, Cindy (Robyn Coffin), were making plans for their future, rebuilding their house and seeming to be more optimistic than not. You know what they say when you plan…
In her vows, Cindy noted what it’s like to watch him go off to work and put his life on the line every day, toasting to “a new house, but thankfully the same family, all of you.” Furthermore, after that, Herrmann admitted to Mouch that he was thinking about retirement. Uh-oh.
Randy “Mouch” McHolland
Between seeing Platt (P.D.‘s Amy Morton) and the talk about Mouch’s legacy with his book, Engine’s lieutenant is also a prime candidate. When it turned out that the publishing company didn’t want Brothers in Arms, the one with Herrmann, the one that would be his legacy, but rather a romance novel, Mouch’s best friend pointed out he could use the money from the latter to publish the former himself.
What if Mouch isn’t around to do that, but we see 51 band together to make sure that Brothers in Arms makes it to shelves?
Joe Cruz
Was there too much joy for this member of Squad? Cruz just found out he and Chloe (Kristen Gutoskie) are having twins. It would be cruel and very tragic to take Cruz away from his family just as it’s expanding, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. In fact, that could make it more likely that he dies and we then see 51 rally around Chloe and their kids.
But what do you think? Do you think one of these characters will die? Someone else will? No one will? (We’re hoping for that one!) Let us know in the comments section below.
Chicago Fire, Season 15, Fall 2026, Wednesdays, 9/8c, NBC
Join the 51 Family
Get absolutely everything about Chicago Fire in your inbox!
Conversation17 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
G
Fire does not need another death. Way too many good people left. Let’s chill a bit without have to greave yet again. We have enough of that in real life, I’m looking for a reprieve!!
-
R
Noone needs to die! Keep the family reunite
-
C
I don’t want to see anyone die. I love the show and I love all the characters.
-
C
I would like the writers to let everyone live to show the fans that some time God does do miracles to let people live. All the actors are great in there actors position and I don't want to see anyone be gone. Thank you.
-
A
That would be HORRIBLE!!😤😤😤😤😞😞😞😞. They are loved and it would not be the same….😞😞😤😤😤😤😤. I love this show But if you do this I can’t watch anymore??????
-
L
I've been with Chicago Fire since day 1. I've seen characters come and go. I would LOVE for 51 NOT to loose anyone, I know I couldn't take if anyone dies, Otis took me out. So to the writers let's stay the course and bring ALL 3, Kelly, Herman and Randall out save and no serious harm to any of them. Here's to Season 15!!!! Have an AMAZING Vacation cya in the Fall. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
-
E
I just think it's awful to have the season finally end that way. We have to wait the rest of spring, all of summer and some of fall to see what happens. But I knew it 10 minutes before the episode was ending. I don't want anyone to die. I'd like all to stay at 51. But maybe it's time for Randall M. to retire. He's thought about it in the past. It could be any of the 5.
-
S
PLEASE DO NOT KILL ANYONE OFF🙏🙏🙏
-
L
I hope they do not write anybody off the show. I love this show and I like the people that are on it. I would hate to see one of them go. I've watched from the beginning. And there's been too many that have left that I liked. Let's not do this again.
-
K
I know change is inevitable but I hope all survive.
-
M
Don't kill nobody off. I sick of shows doimg that
-
D
You can’t do that it’d be kind of hard to wash it no more all these characters I love so don’t let them die. Bring them back. let it be a miracle.
-
C
PLEASE Don’t Take any of them away! They All are soooooo Loved! We don’t need to lose anymore of them! These “guys” are like family to me & when you write one out, it throws me into depression! All 3 Chicago shows are my family & I Love them All!
-
G
I don’t think any of these 3 are going to die. They would be crazy to kill of Herrmann or Mouch. They are the soul of the show and they already broke up one fan favorite bromance (Crotis), so probably not. Cruz won’t die exactly because he’s about to have 4 kids. Plus it would confirm what Chloe said when she tried to break up with him in Season 8.
I think if anyone major dies, it will be Vazquez. They gave us a potential exit for his character anyways and no resolution to his love triangle. Maybe his ending is that he dies and Violet and Novak spend the next season grieving the loss, which just brings them closer together. But I do think someone major needs to die to push the story forward
-
F
I honestly think they’ll probably injure someone badly rather than kill off multiple characters.
My guess:One major character ends up in critical conditionAnother may consider retirement or stepping away from active dutyBut Firehouse 51 largely survivesIf I had to pick the most at-risk character story-wise, I’d say Christopher Herrmann from Chicago Fire. The finale gave him a lot of emotional closure energy — family moments, reflection, future talk — and TV writers often use that setup before a major turning point.
But I still lean toward the show pulling back at the last second.
Why? Because losing too many legacy characters at once could damage the chemistry that keeps the series working. Herrmann, Mouch, Cruz, Severide, Kidd — they are basically the emotional structure of the show now.
So my real prediction:serious injuriesemotional falloutmaybe one exit or retirementbut probably not a mass-casualty premiere.
-
C
Hello Chicago Fire cast and fans!! I have watched Fire from day one. It breaks my heart whenever a cast member dies (exiting the show). Don't kill Joe Cruz: instead, let Cruz get a reality check and realize his family needs him around so Cruz retires from Firehouse 51..
-
D
Contract negotiations, ijs
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services