Chicago Fire confirms another star leaving as the drama finally returns

If you thought Chicago Fire had finally settled down after that tumultuous run of leadership changes and cast shakeups, think again. NBC has confirmed the show is about to lose another major regular in Season 15, and given the way things have been going at Firehouse 51, it might just stir up more drama for everyone involved.

Chiefs come and go

For the past two seasons, Firehouse 51's chain of command has been just shy of a revolving door. After Eamonn Walker's Battalion Chief Boden left in the middle of Season 13, the show slotted in Dom Pascal (played by Dermot Mulroney) as his replacement — and it was anything but a smooth handover. Pascal's style? Let's just say 'rigid' doesn't quite cut it. He came in with a near-military obsession with hierarchy, paperwork, and, to be blunt, not much warmth for his crew. Definitely not Boden’s “family first” approach.

But it's not all rulebook and cold stares. Fast forward to Season 14, and Pascal actually proved there’s a half-decent bloke under all that regulation. During a major crossover event (which roped in Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. alongside Fire), there was a dramatic bioterror attack. Pascal risked his own career and safety by defying a direct FBI order to enter a cordoned-off crime scene, determined to recover a key hard drive and save both civilians and his men. His reward? Getting sacked by the Chicago Fire Department for “conduct unbecoming,” effectively benching him for the rest of Season 14.

Dermot Mulroney is set to depart the Chicago Fire cast, with Pascal’s storyline wrapping up properly in Season 15, after having spent the back half of 14 off screen.

Season 15 faces

So, what’s next for Firehouse 51? Here’s who’s still standing (and who isn’t):

• Dermot Mulroney (Dom Pascal) will return briefly to finish his arc, then depart.
• Joe Miñoso (Joe Cruz), an original since day one, is also winding down his time on the show after next season.
• Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide), Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Kidd), Hanako Greensmith (Violet Mikami), Jocelyn Hudon (Lizzy Novak), and Brandon Larracuente (Jack Damon) are all confirmed to return.
• New to the team: Da'Vinchi (best known from All American and BMF) is joining as rookie firefighter Marcus Burke — expect him to be thrown into the deep end immediately.

For Mulroney, the exit makes sense. He’d already eased out of the spotlight in the most recent season, and now he’s focusing on Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, which just got a third season pickup.

Trouble at the top

Meanwhile, the day-to-day isn’t getting any easier for Severide, who’s now officially Captain of Rescue Squad 3. Trouble is, with Pascal gone, Chief Andre Hopkins (Rob Morgan) has taken over temporarily. If you remember, Hopkins has his own axe to grind — his late father had beef with Severide’s old man, Benny, and apparently the grudge lives on. He’s already used his power to block Severide’s earlier promotion, so don’t expect any favours now that Kelly’s his direct report. The fallout from the last big fire (where most of the team wound up injured, with a few medically retired for good) is still being felt, and Hopkins seems hellbent on clearing out what he calls ‘legacy firefighters’ in the process.

Season 15 will show Severide facing a career crossroad, weighing up whether to stick with Rescue Squad 3 under Hopkins or take his chances moving to the Office of Fire Investigation.

The only slightly brighter news: at least both Mulroney and Miñoso are getting on-screen farewells, not quietly written out off camera — a small mercy, considering how many cast members on American dramas just vanish between seasons.