If you want to be a Chicago Fire fan, you have to get used to saying goodbye.
In fact, the show is full of unfortunate characters whose endings are unseemly.
Because this is a show about responding to emergencies, episodes often involve the death of a minor character, and sometimes these episodes stick with you long after the credits roll.
Several of the Chicago Fire deaths shocked us, broke our hearts, and left us crying into our pillows.
Over the course of the first twelve seasons, we’ve said goodbye to a surprising number of beloved heroes and unfortunate victims.
Some are hurting more than others and we are holding our breath at this time.
If we lose any of the remaining actors, there could be riots.
“Chicago Fire” showrunner Andrea Newman recently told us that the cast feels like a family, which may be part of why it’s so painful when one of them is killed.
This proved to the show’s writers that the losses of the Chicago Fire will always be with us.
Foul Conduct: Dr. Hallie Thomas
We know that Kathy eventually got her happy ending, but before Sylvie, Kathy’s heart belonged to Hallie.
Death by fire is a horrific way for anyone to die, especially someone engaged to be a firefighter.
The most tragic part of this loss was that Casey was too late to save Harley, something that will haunt him forever.
On the plus side, Harley’s death led to a Chicago P.D. spinoff, so at least there’s that.
Wrong place, wrong time: Leslie Shea
With so little LGBTQ+ representation on the show, Shay’s death hit harder than most.
Shay is an iconic lesbian character who is beloved by colleagues and friends, especially Seyfried and Gabby.
What killed her was entirely a freak accident, but for LGBTQ+ fans, the loss is personal.
It’s a sad example of the “bury your gays” trope, and it’s devastating that we didn’t get to see Shay live happily ever after.
Natural Causes: Benny Severide
Treat Williams’ performance as Benny Severide was simply iconic, which makes his passing a huge shame for Chicago Fire fans.
Of course, the role is complex.
As of Season 12, we’ve learned that he gave birth to at least two children in secret, without his son Kelly Severide knowing anything about it.
But despite their strained relationship, Kelly was still deeply affected by her father’s sudden death.
Heroic Deeds: Evan Hawkins
Ugh, this stings a little bit.
As much as we’d love to see Carver and Violet together in Season 13, there’s no one quite like Hawkins.
Violet loves him so much and her desperate efforts to save him are unimaginable.
Hawkins died like a hero, saving the victim’s life, but that didn’t ease the victim’s pain.
An explosive farewell: Brian “Otis” Zvonicek
No one felt the loss as much as Cruz, but everyone was grieving Otis’ shocking death.
At the monument where Chief Boden dedicated a statue to Otis, Cruz openly wept for his friend.
I get it: Chicago Fire is a soap opera that has had its share of devastating moments, but seeing Cruz fight through this loss was the worst of them all.
Otis may have died after the boiler exploded, but his memory lives on in his namesake: Cruz’s son.
Natural Causes: Nowak’s Patient, John
Of all the Chicago Fire deaths we’ve seen, this very subtle, off-screen death had the biggest impact on me.
Violet and Lizzie respond to a call and find an old woman injured.
What the woman didn’t know was that her husband of fifty years had died in the next room and Lizzie had discovered his body.
This is the first time we see Novak break down, and the thought of that poor old woman losing her life partner is unbearable.
Real-Life Tragedy: Dalmatian Tuesday
Tuesday is a very good boy indeed.
51’s unofficial mascot and Ritter’s companion didn’t die on the show, but the pup’s real-life death abruptly ended his time on “Chicago Fire.”
Fans were devastated when they heard the news, and the cast remembered Tuesday fondly.
The dog developed kidney problems and the sudden illness forced it to cross the rainbow bridge, its trainer said on Tuesday.
After so many painful losses, Chicago Fire fans know that almost no one on the show is safe.
Whether the writers will actually kill off beloved major characters like Mochi or Herman is anyone’s guess.
But one thing we know for sure is that if we need a good cry, there are dozens of Chicago Fire episodes that can bring us to tears in an instant.
That’s why we refuse to fall for new characters like Damon and Novak.
If they’re next on a writer’s hit list, we don’t want to find out after we’ve fallen in love with them.
To relive these characters, you can watch every episode of Chicago Fire on Peacock. Don’t forget to tune in to watch the Season 13 premiere on Wednesday, September 25th at 9/8c!
Watch Chicago Fire online
