If you’ve been watching Chicago Fire for any length of time, you already know the drill. Dick Wolf doesn't do "safe." Every time that bell rings at Firehouse 51, there is a legitimate, stomach-churning chance that one of our favorites isn't coming back. Going into the 2025 episodes, the tension is higher than it’s been in years. People keep asking who dies on Chicago Fire 2025, and honestly, the answer is a mix of confirmed exits, terrifying cliffhangers, and the constant shadow of "who's contract is up next?"
The show has a history of gut-punching us. Remember Otis? Most of us still aren't over that. Then there was Shay. Now, as we navigate the current landscape of Season 13 and the transition into the latter half of the 2025 broadcast cycle, the writers are playing with fire—literally and narratively.
The Current Casualty List: Who We’ve Actually Lost
Let’s be real. Not every departure is a death, but in the world of One Chicago, they often feel just as permanent. As of early 2025, the biggest shift hasn't been a casket, but the gaping hole left by Wallace Boden. While Eamonn Walker’s character didn't die—he moved up to Deputy Commissioner—his absence has fundamentally shifted the safety net of the show.
When the "Dad" of the firehouse leaves, everyone becomes more vulnerable.
However, we did see a secondary character exit in a way that felt pretty final recently. The revolving door of new recruits often leads to tragedy. Think back to the psychological toll on characters like Mouch and Herrmann when they can't save one of their own. In the 2025 arcs, we are seeing a massive focus on the physical toll of the job. Herrmann, specifically, has been dealing with health scares that have fans absolutely convinced he’s the next one on the chopping block.
Is Christopher Herrmann Really Leaving?
David Eigenberg has been the soul of the show since day one. But let's look at the facts. Herrmann has been gunning for that captain’s seat, yet his body is failing him. Between the hearing loss issues and the sheer exhaustion of the job, the writers are heavily signaling a "heroic exit."
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Will he die?
There’s a theory circulating among the production leaks that Herrmann might sacrifice himself in a multi-episode warehouse fire event. It would be the most "Herrmann" way to go—protecting his younger firefighters. But as of the most recent episodes airing in early 2025, he is still breathing, though his medical file is looking thinner by the day. If you're betting on who dies on Chicago Fire 2025, Herrmann is the name that keeps the bookies up at night.
The New Guy Jinx: Dom Pascal’s Impact
Dermot Mulroney joined the cast as Dom Pascal, and whenever a new chief steps in, someone usually pays the price. It’s a classic TV trope. Pascal is different—he’s colder, more calculated. His presence has created a friction that leads to mistakes. And in a fire, mistakes equal body bags.
There’s been a lot of chatter about the younger recurring cast members. Often, the show will introduce a likable floater or a candidate just to kill them off and trigger a character arc for Stella Kidd or Kelly Severide.
Watch the background characters.
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The moment a "no-name" firefighter gets a backstory? That’s usually their death warrant. In the 2025 episodes, we've seen a couple of close calls with the engine crew that suggest a mid-season catastrophe is coming.
Why 2025 Feels Different for Firehouse 51
Shows that reach Season 13 and 14 start to get "expensive." We saw this with Law & Order and Grey's Anatomy. High salaries for veteran actors often lead to "creative decisions" to kill off major characters. It’s cynical, sure, but it’s how the business works. This is why the rumors surrounding Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) never truly die.
Kinney has taken leaves of absence before. Every time he disappears, the "Severide dies" searches spike. But killing Severide would be like killing the show itself. It’s more likely we’d see a tragic end for a "Tier 1.5" character—someone like Joe Cruz or Ritter.
Ritter has been getting a lot of solo screen time lately. Usually, when a character starts growing, maturing, and finding happiness, the writers pull the rug out. It’s a cruel pattern. If you’re looking for a dark horse candidate for who dies on Chicago Fire 2025, Daniel Kyri’s Ritter is unfortunately high on the list. He’s loved by fans, which makes his death have the maximum emotional impact.
The Science of a Chicago Fire Death
The showrunners, including Andrea Newman, have spoken about the "danger" of the job. They don't want the audience to feel safe. If the team saves everyone every week, the stakes disappear.
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To keep the "Discover" feed buzzing, they need a major event. We are currently hearing whispers of a "water-based disaster" or a "massive chemical spill" for the May sweeps period of 2025. These are the "meat grinder" episodes where anyone—literally anyone—could be written out.
- Stella Kidd: Unlikely. She’s the new focal point of the leadership.
- Violet Mikami: Possible, but she’s already suffered the loss of Evan Hawkins. Doubling down on her trauma might be too much, even for this show.
- Carver: He’s the resident "bad boy" with a heart of gold. Killing him off would be a waste of a good redemption arc, but he’s definitely in the line of fire.
Navigating the Rumor Mill vs. Reality
You'll see a lot of clickbait headlines claiming "Severide Dead!" or "Casey Returns Only to Die!"
Don't buy it.
Most of these are based on out-of-context set photos. For example, a photo of a funeral scene on the Chicago streets recently went viral. Fans immediately jumped to the conclusion that a main character was in that casket. In reality, Chicago Fire often films "honor guard" scenes for minor characters or off-screen legends to show the community of the CFD.
However, the 2025 production schedule did include a "major stunt" sequence near the Chicago River that required several days of filming and a high number of pyrotechnics. Usually, stunts of that scale result in a permanent cast change.
Actionable Steps for Fans Following the 2025 Season
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and find out who dies on Chicago Fire 2025 before it airs, you have to look at the "boring" stuff.
- Check the Casting Calls: Keep an eye on Chicago-based casting agencies. When they look for "funeral attendees" or "hospital grieving family," it’s a massive red flag.
- Monitor Instagram Stories: Actors are notorious for posting "last day on set" wrap gifts. If an actor like David Eigenberg or Joe Minoso starts posting nostalgic photos with the crew mid-season, start worrying.
- Watch the "Previously On": If the show starts reminding you of a character's long-lost sister or a past injury, they are "priming" that character for a major plot point, which is often a tragic one.
- Follow the Writers: The writers' room often drops hints about the "theme" of the season. The theme for 2025 seems to be "Legacy." In TV speak, legacy usually means passing the torch because someone died.
Ultimately, the best way to handle the 2025 season is to keep your tissues close. Whether it's a slow-burn exit like Boden's or a shocking explosion that takes out a veteran like Herrmann, Firehouse 51 is never going to be a place where everyone gets a happy ending. The "who dies" question isn't just about spoilers; it's about the emotional toll of a show that refuses to play it safe. Keep your eyes on the upcoming crossover events—that's where the real danger usually hides.