Hard times are coming for Firehouse 51 this season as art mirrors the real-life downsizing of the Windy City’s fire department. “There will be a big effect on all our players, especially the medics,” previews showrunner Andrea Newman.
As various firehouses close, Paramedic-in-Charge Violet (Hanako Greensmith) will have her hands full managing all the ambo calls, along with fellow paramedic Lizzy (Jocelyn Hudon). Among those “riding the ambulance,” to help out the beleaguered pair: the Rescue Squad’s always amusing Capp (Randy Flagler).
In the midst of the stress, Violet, whose on-and-off boyfriend Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) left her, will now lose her House 51 bestie Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri, exiting due to NBC’s cost-trimming). Ritter will return at the top of the season for several episodes before an emotional send-off for the popular character.
The chaos of the reductions forces Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) to bring in new guy Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente, 13 Reasons Why), who left the police academy to train as a firefighter. (Interestingly, he played a cop on Dick Wolf’s recent short-lived police drama On Call.) “Sal is good at his job and he knows it,” says Larracuente. “He wants to be the best he can be at his job and to protect those around him while he’s doing it.” Look for some sparring with Lt. Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), his boss on Truck, and some bonding with Lt. Severide (Taylor Kinney), and, not surprisingly, ambo’s flirtatious Novak.
With a lot on his plate, Pascal mostly hands over the reins to Severide, who becomes 51’s de facto leader along with an arson investigator. Domestic stress is also on its way as Severide and his wife Kidd prepare to be “responsible parents,” says Newman, “while they love the job in which everything you do is ‘life on the line.’”
Finally, the power switches between longtime buddies Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) and Mouch (Christian Stolte) lead to a falling out after Herrmann relinquishes his lieutenant title so Mouch, who aced the lieutenant’s exam, could get the position. “Mouch really steps up and takes over,” says Newman, but things prove a bit difficult when he becomes Herrmann’s boss.