5 Characters Chicago Fire Could Actually Kill Off After Season 14’s Finale Cliffhanger

Be warned, this article reveals major plot points from the Chicago Fire season 14 episode, “Thank You.” The recent season finale of Chicago Fire marked a significant turning point for the show, and more characters might be leaving after the dramatic cliffhanger ending. The episode also served as the final one for showrunner Andrea Newton, who has been with the series since its start. It’s currently unknown if the new executive producer, Victor Teran, will choose to eliminate any main characters when the show returns this fall.

This week’s episode took a slightly different approach, jumping between current events and glimpses into the future to create tension leading up to the season’s big challenge – and it delivered! A massive explosion caused a warehouse roof to collapse, trapping firefighters from Truck, Squad, and Engine, leaving nine characters in life-threatening danger.

It’s very likely that Severide and Kidd will continue as main characters on Chicago Fire, and Severide’s skills in investigating arson could be important in the next season when they try to find out what caused the fire. Capp and Tony are also probably safe, as killing them off wouldn’t have a big enough impact on the show. That leaves a few other characters who might not make it to season 15 of Chicago Fire.

Christopher Herrmann

Played by David Eigenberg Since Season 1, Episode 1

Herrmann had a difficult fourteenth season on Chicago Fire, and the finale left his life hanging in the balance. Earlier in the season, his house was destroyed by fire, causing significant hardship for his family. He also selflessly stepped down from his lieutenant position at Firehouse 51, allowing Mouch to take the role, though it meant a reduction in his salary.

Herrmann and the rest of the firefighters from Truck 81 were on the warehouse roof when they discovered it was about to cave in because of the explosions. Thick black smoke was coming from the roof as he quickly tried to reach the aerial ladder to get down. He was the second firefighter to descend.

He was trapped when a sudden burst of flames erupted from the roof, completely surrounding the aerial ladder and the four firefighters on it. Violet and Novak’s shocked expressions revealed the accident could be fatal, and Herrmann couldn’t get out of harm’s way.

Considering the episode heavily focused on how much everyone loves Herrmann, and hinted at his potential retirement after renewing his vows with Cindy, the season 14 finale might have been the last time we see him on Chicago Fire.

Randall “Mouch” McHolland

Played by Christian Stolte Since Season 1, Episode 1

Season 14 brought good things for Mouch, who continued to develop as a leader as lieutenant at Engine 51. He was able to focus on managing operations and keep himself from the most dangerous fires. Plus, the season revealed that his old manuscript, Sheets on Fire, had been accepted for publication, and he’d receive a significant payment for the romance novel.

Thick smoke poured from the warehouse, signaling that the Engine officer, Severide, and the rest of Squad were actively searching through the building. Mouch was still inside when an explosion occurred. Because the show didn’t reveal the cause of the blast, it’s difficult to feel confident about Mouch’s fate.

He hasn’t had the same specialized training as the firefighters in Squad, and at 51, he’s not a rookie. To make matters worse, the show hinting at his success as a writer – with Trudy reading his book – felt like a typical One Chicago setup for something bad to happen to him.

I couldn’t help but wonder, with all those popping sounds before the big explosion, if the warehouse was secretly packed with illegal fireworks. And considering Chicago Fire usually sticks to real-time events, Memorial Day is just around the corner, which made the thought even more likely. Honestly, a fireworks-related disaster inside that building felt… almost safer for Mouch and the rest of the crew than whatever other kind of explosion they were facing. It just seemed like a slightly less devastating possibility.

Joe Cruz

Played by Joe Miñoso Since Season 1, Episode 1

Throughout season 14, Joe Cruz really focused on his family life. His relationship with his son, Javi, remained incredibly heartwarming, and the season finale revealed he and Chloe are expecting more than one baby, expanding their family in a big way.

Joe is preparing for the arrival of twin daughters, and he’s okay with staying where he is professionally – he doesn’t need a promotion. This could finally give him a good balance between his work and personal life, which is rare in the world of Dick Wolf’s shows. The episode even shows a happy scene of Chloe unpacking groceries, making the possibility of something bad happening even more impactful.

When the warehouse exploded and the roof collapsed, Cruz was inside with the rest of Squad 3 and Mouch. The smoke, debris, and flames made it difficult to determine the firefighters’ positions before the building came down.

Someone managed to survive the first blast and radioed for help, shouting, “Mayday, mayday, we’re trapped!” It was hard to identify the voice – it didn’t sound like Cruz, Severide, or Mouch. If Joe Miñoso’s character is leaving the show, it suggests Cruz will likely die in a similar tragic way to Otis, following a dramatic season finale cliffhanger.

Considering how recently Cruz almost died during the crossover event on Chicago Fire, he’s probably not the most likely character to die in this season’s finale.

Sal Vasquez

Played by Brandon Larracuente Since Season 14, Episode 1

After his previous show, On Call, was cancelled, actor Vasquez joined Chicago Fire. He feels like he’s been part of the show for much longer than a single season, having already navigated a complicated love triangle – a storyline that often unfolds over a significant amount of time at Firehouse 51.

In “Thank You,” firefighter Vasquez seemed ready to fall in love with Novak. Things were also looking up with his family – he even had a good talk with his dad! Plus, he was about to resume his training at the Chicago police academy, meaning his long-held dreams were within reach. He was so close to everything finally falling into place.

He was with Kidd’s team on the warehouse roof just before it exploded. He was climbing down the aerial ladder, right behind Herrmann and ahead of Kidd, when the flames overtook them – he was the third of four firefighters descending.

Unlike Cindy, Trudy, and Chloe, the final scene didn’t show anyone waiting for him, which suggests he’s in danger and could be killed off for dramatic effect. His death would be impactful, but it wouldn’t be as devastating as if one of the original characters died.

Ballard

Played by Leroy Williams III Since Season 14, Episode 4

Ballard joined Chicago Fire in season 14 as a temporary firefighter, and became a full member of Kidd’s Truck 81 after Herrmann’s house was destroyed by fire. He remained with the team for the rest of the season and played a key role in the finale, being one of the four firefighters who tried to create a vent in the roof of the burning building.

When watching “Thank You” on Peacock, Ballard is the first of the four stunt performers to attempt the aerial maneuver. Because of this, viewers – and his fellow performers Violent, Novak, and Pascal watching below – had the clearest view of him when the fire unexpectedly erupted and surrounded them all.

Only a fire specialist could say whether being first in line helped or hurt when they were all trapped in the fire on the aerial lift, but realistically, Ballard is in the most danger.

The new character has been a good addition to the show, but he hasn’t become a central figure yet – we don’t even know his first name. Similar to a hero who died in a recent crossover event – someone Kidd mourned, but who wasn’t essential to the overall story – this character could potentially die after the season finale.

Everyone might make it out of the intense season 15 premiere relatively okay, especially considering this situation feels reminiscent of when Casey faced danger back in season 5. However, with a new showrunner taking over this fall, anything could happen on Chicago Fire.

2026-05-15 00:01