Chicago Fire got off to a harrowing start in the 2026 TV schedule in the wake of the fall finale cliffhanger than ended with Severide and Van Meter in grave danger. Severide managed to escape the inferno with relatively minor injuries, but Van Meter's fate was uncertain for the first three episodes of the new year as he lay unconscious in the hospital. Throw in the news that Mouch was out at Firehouse 51, and Severide was taking a lot of hits. Fortunately, Van Meter's survival was finally confirmed, reminding me of what executive producer Reza Tabrizi told CinemaBlend about the characters' relationship.
Mouch was the first loss of the new year, when his efforts to save his job at the CFD paid off... sort of. He wasn't let go, but Engine 51 was decommissioned anyway and Mouch was moved over to Firehouse 40. That at least didn't have to mean Christian Stolte was permanently gone from the show, whereas Van Meter seemed on the verge of death from the very start of 2026. The tragedy was looming over Stellaride's relationship, on top of the loss of Isaiah from their home. (You can stream the most recent episodes with a Peacock subscription now.)
