From Gabriela Dawson dealing with her dad’s stabbing to the death of Kelly Severide’s dad, get ready to cry.
Over the years, Chicago Fire has become a Wednesday night staple, and fans never know quite what to expect. Whether it’s relationship drama between One Chicago’s heroes or tragic accidents that leave everyone on the edges of their seats, the show always keeps viewers guessing.
And, with so much on the line at all times, it’s no surprise that Fire has given us loads of tear-jerking scenes. Revisit the show’s most iconic, heart-wrenching moments.
Dawson Found Her Dad Left for Dead
In Season 6, Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) had to deal with a lot of emotions around her father. He was living with and depending on her at times, then often leaving without notice, and the burden weighed heavily on her. The tension came to a head in a One Chicago crossover event that started with Chicago Fire Episode 7 (“A Man’s Legacy”).
Gabby and her partner Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) responded to a call about a stabbing on a train platform and found a man lying in a pool of blood. But, as Dawson leaned down to help out, she realized the man was her father. The pair rushed him to the Chicago Med hospital, where Dawson’s brother, Antonio (Jon Seda), said that their dad stepped in to try to stop a man from attacking others with his knife.
Luckily, he survived the stabbing and the Dawson siblings were able to see him. “What were you doing throwing yourself in front of the knife?” she asked him tearily, in a heart-wrenching moment of realizing her father’s heroic intentions.
Herrmann Forgave Cruz for a Life-Threatening Attack
Season 4, Episode 9 (“Short and Fat”) ended with a cliffhanger after Chistopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg) was stabbed in the kitchen of the show’s hang-out spot Molly’s, by a worker after a confrontation. In the next episode (“The Beating Heart”), Dawson found Herrmann bleeding on the floor and immediately helped rush him to Chicago Med.
The beloved “heart of 51” fought for his life at Med, but the most heartfelt moment came when he talked to Joe Cruz’s (Joe Minoso) about the attack, Throughout the episode, Cruz had been up in arms about how he’d introduced Freddie (the boy who stabbed Herrmann) to the squad, and blamed himself for what happened. But before going into surgery, Herrmann told Cruz that his investment in Freddie was a good thing.
“He had a real screwy life going on, and you were giving him a chance to get away from that,” Herrmann told a tearful Cruz. “I’m not ready to forgive that kid, but I sure as hell don’t blame you for what happened, you’ve got to know that”
The Dedication Ceremony for Shay
Leslie Shay (Lauren German) was a beloved paramedic working alongside Dawson on the first few seasons of Fire. After she and Dawson had a falling out because of a silly prank, the two responded to a call and Shay took the lead going into a burning building. Unfortunately, a pipe fell onto Shay and killed her, despite Dawson’s efforts to save her partner.
In Season 3, Episode 13 (“Three Bells”), the team investigated the fire and found that Shay had been murdered by an arsonist who was responsible for other attacks. The squad dedicated an ambulance to the late paramedic and held a ceremony with Shay’s sister.
“This house, this family, it’s all as strong as it ever was,” Dawson said tearfully to the crowd. “Stronger even, because I think deep down we think to ourselves, ‘Shay would want us to be better. She would want us to lean on each other.'”
“51 will always be Leslie Shay’s home,” Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) said before leading a salute.
Otis’s Memorial Statue Reveal
We’d be remiss not to mention the death of 51’s beloved Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (Yuri Sardarov) as one of the saddest moments in Fire history. In the show’s Season 8 premiere (“Sacred Ground”) it was confirmed that the boiler explosion in the Season 7 finale (“I’m Not Leaving You”) had left Otis with fatal injuries.
The entire team was shaken up by their dear friend’s tragic death and, to surprise his squad, Chief Boden ordered a memorial statue for Otis. “Who’s going to remember us? It’s a question that all of us who did this job ask ourselves at one moment or another,” Boden said before revealing the plaque. “Brian Zvonecek was our brother. He was our friend, he was a hell of a firefighter. He was smart, funny, kind, he was unselfish, and he was loyal.”
“If you see someone, a fellow firefighter, a citizen, a friend standing at this memorial, I want you to come down and tell them about Brian,” Boden added as he hung a bronze firefighter hat atop the statue base. “That way, you will bring this memorial to life.” The rest of the squad hung their heads in respect and Otis’s partner Cruz’s gut-wrenching tears had just about every Chicago fan joining him.
Severide’s Father’s Final Favor
In Season 7, Episode 6 (“All the Proof”), Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) learned that his father had a stroke. When he got to Chicago Med, it was already too late: He was informed that Benjamin Severide had died 10 minutes prior.
Before the older Severide passed away, his son had begged him to stand up for Chief Boden, who was under attack for promoting Herrmann over a less-qualified external candidate. And, he found out, his father had done so.
Boden told Severide, “Every favor he was ever owed, he put it on the line… and it worked. Your father [said] that I am the type of the man who molds good men into great ones. And you, Kelly, were all the proof he needs to know that that’s true.”
This final act of goodwill left Severide in tears, grateful that his father had helped 51 one last time.
Kidd Got Rushed to the Hospital
In Season 7 Episode 2 (“Going to War”) the crew fought an aggressive, 25-story fire together, resulting in many nail-biting saves. Severide repelled down the side of the building to save a child, and other 51 teammates—including Severide’s significant other, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo)— risked their lives to search the building for civilians.
Herrmann, however, brought Kidd out of the building unconscious. As the rest of the squad worked to revive her, noticing that she had a pulse but was not breathing, it was an emotional moment for Severide, who looked on nervously and said “Come on, Kidd.”
Severide yelled at Herrmann, saying “You were supposed to have her back.” Herrmann clarified that Kidd hadn’t told him about her oxygen levels because she wanted to keep fighting: “She was trying to save you.”
Casey and Severide Reunite for Stellaride’s Wedding
After a sorrowful goodbye, 51’s beloved Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) returned to Chicago for an important event in the finale of Season 10: He met up with his long-time best friend Severide for the latter’s wedding, and the two shared a heartfelt moment that brought on all the happy tears.
Casey told his friend, “I don’t want to get too sappy, but it’s your wedding, so I’m going there… I’m really grateful to be a part of this, Kelly. You guys are meant to be.”
The wedding offered fans a chance to celebrate a favorite pairing, and seeing 51 happy and together always makes for a heartwarming moment.
