Chicago Fire continues to make headlines during the off-season. The show confirmed that Lyla Novak, the character played by Jocelyn Hudon, will be promoted to series regular in season 13. This is a big deal for Firehouse 51, as the bulk of season 12 had been spent trying (and failing) to find the proper replacement for Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer).
Lots of paramedics have walked through the doors at 51, and most of them have walked out. It’s a tough job, especially when you have ulterior motives. With that said, here’s a rundown of the all the different medics who have appeared on the show, and why they left.
Ground rules: a character has to have stuck around for more than a season to make the cut. This means floaters and/or brief replacements, like Gianna Mackey (Adriyan Rae) or Emma Jacobs (Caitlin Carver), will not be mentioned. Let’s begin.
Why did Leslie Shay leave Chicago Fire?
The first medic to leave Chicago Fire, and certainly the most tragic. Leslie Shay (Lauren German) was a beloved character during the show’s first two seasons. Despite the complications of her personal life, she was very much a part of the 51 family. She was especially close with Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney).
Tragedy struck in the season 2, finale, however. Shay was smashed by a collapsing pipe during a fire, and despite the efforts of the rest of the team, she was pronounced dead on the spot. She returned for flashbacks in the season 3 premiere, but that was the last we saw of the character.
When did Peter Mills leave Chicago Fire?
Peter Mills (Charlie Barnett) has an odd resume at 51. He joined as a firefighter, then was transferred to rescue squad, then, due to an illness, he became a medic. Mills eventually made his way back to firefighter, which means his medic stint was short. We’re still counting it.
The character parted ways with 51 in season 3, when he decided to move to North Carolina to live with his mother and sister. The last we heard, they were all running a restaurant together.
Why did Jessica Chilton leave Chicago Fire?
Jessica Chilton (Dora Madison) was the replacement for Peter Mills in season 3. She was a distinct departure from Mills in terms of personality, and brought a fresh energy to Firehouse 51, but Chili’s demons eventually got the best of her.
Family tragedies eventually drove Chili to pick up the bottle. The character was fired for drinking on the job in the season 4 episode “All Hard Parts.” The last time we saw her, though, she claimed to be looking into rehab, so we hope she rebounded.
When did Gabriela Dawson leave Chicago Fire?
Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) also liked to move around. She spent most of her time at 51 as a medic, but she was briefly a Truck 81 firefighter candidate. Dawson was the veteran when Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) entered the picture, and the two of them became fast friends.
There’s a bit of a strange retroactive context to apply to Dawson and Brett, given that they both were in serious relationships with Matt Casey (Brett still is), but these two were dynamite in the field. Gabby Dawson decided to leave in season 6, though she did come back for “Best Friend Magic” in season 8.
Why did Emily Foster leave Chicago Fire?
Emily Foster (Annie Ilonzeh) was Dawson’s replacement. She stepped in during the season 7 premiere, and quickly proved herself to be an excellent medic (even though she was late on her first).
Foster kept her personal life under wraps, rarely getting involved in the show’s main dramas, but she ultimately decided that being a medic wasn’t her vocation.
Foster decided to leave the firehouse in season 8 and go to medical school to become a doctor. She hasn’t been heard from since.
When did Sylvie Brett leave Chicago Fire?
Brett was the newcomer under Dawson, but she eventually became the veteran. She took Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) under her wing, and they became such close friends that Violet was the Maid of Honor at her wedding. A wedding that effectively ended Brett’s time at 51.
The medic departed in season 12, as she decided to move to Oregon to live with her adopted daughter and her new husband, the aforementioned Matt Casey. We got a brief mention of Brett in the season 12 finale, though, so there’s still a chance she could return for a cameo.
