As Chicago Fire returns for its 15th season, Firehouse 51 prepares for significant departures alongside the arrival of new recruits.
The station doors at Firehouse 51 are set to open on a different landscape this week. As the long-running drama returns for its 15th season on October 7. the familiar faces that have anchored the show since its 2012 debut are shifting. marking yet another period of transition for the storied procedural.
The most significant changes involve departures that will ripple through the upcoming episodes. Dermot Mulroney, who stepped into the role of Chief Dom Pascal, is set to leave the series after two seasons. While he will return early in Season 15 to bring closure to Pascal’s storyline. his departure was finalized when he finished filming in August. Reflecting on his time with the cast. Mulroney noted the intensity of the work. saying. “We gave it our all for two seasons. They wrote an incredible storyline that put me as an actor on high challenge. so I loved every minute of it. Sad to see it go.”.
He is not the only veteran moving on. Joe Miñoso, a foundational presence who has portrayed Joe Cruz since the pilot, will also depart the series. Like Mulroney. Miñoso is slated to appear in the early episodes of the new season to wrap up his character’s arc. His exit arrives at a particularly poignant moment for the narrative; Season 14 ended on a high-stakes cliffhanger that saw Cruz and several of his colleagues trapped within a burning storage facility. Beyond the fire. the finale teased a personal turning point for Cruz. who. along with his wife Chloe—played by Kristen Lee Gutoski—is expecting twins.
These exits follow a history of major cast evolutions for the series, including the departure of lead Jesse Spencer, who played Matt Casey in 2021, and Eamonn Walker, known for his role as Chief Wallace Boden.
Stability remains at the core of the house. however. as series leads Taylor Kinney and Miranda Rae Mayo are confirmed to return. Kinney. who has served as fire captain Kelly Severide since the show’s pilot. and Mayo. who joined as Lieutenant Stella Kidd in Season 4. will continue to anchor the production. They are joined by returning cast members Christian Stolte as Randall “Mouch” McHolland. David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann. Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami. and Jocelyn Hudon as Lyla Novak.
As the veteran guard prepares for change, the station will integrate new blood into its ranks. Da’Vinchi. the 30-year-old star known for his work on “BMF. ” joins as a series regular playing Marcus Burke. a firefighter candidate described as both funny and defiant. He will be joined by Matthew Daddario, who appears on the Season 15 premiere cast list as McCaffrey, a fellow candidate. Brandon Larracuente is also confirmed to return as Vasquez.
The shifting dynamics at Firehouse 51 serve as a reminder of the show’s longevity. Whether through the departure of long-standing figures or the integration of new candidates like Burke and McCaffrey, the series continues to reorganize its ensemble around the core tension of life on the front lines.
Season 15 premieres Wednesday, October 7, at 9 p.m. on NBC, with episodes available to stream on Peacock the following day.
Chicago Fire Season 15 Joe Minoso Dermot Mulroney Taylor Kinney Firehouse 51 TV news