Chicago Fire’s Biggest Death In Years Has A Major Silver Lining

Throughout Chicago Fire‘s 13-season run, the TV show has featured numerous tragic, unfortunate deaths, and while its most recent passing is quite sad, it also needed to happen. The NBC procedural drama has never shied away from killing off important characters, from Shay to Otis. It has been a long time since a death has significantly affected Chicago Fire and its characters, though, so the series was due for some heartbreak in season 13. While some viewers may have thought they would lose a firefighter or paramedic during the 2025 One Chicago crossover, the real tragedy comes four episodes later.

KaDee Strickland’s Monica Pascal dies in Chicago Fire season 13, episode 15, “Too Close.” Monica, Chief Dom Pascal’s wife, is in a horrific car accident while on her way to her and her husband’s anniversary dinner. Firehouse 51 responds to the call (without their chief, who is waiting for his wife at the restaurant), and they rush Monica to the hospital. Unfortunately, there’s nothing anyone can do for her, and Pascal arrives at Gaffney just in time to hold Monica’s hand when she dies in the Chicago Fire episode.

Pascal Deals With The Fallout Of Monica’s Death In Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 16

Monica Died In A Car Accident

Chicago Fire season 13, episode 16, “In the Rubble,” opens shortly after Monica’s death, and it’s clear out of the gate that Pascal is (understandably) struggling. He tries to press charges against the man who caused the accident. However, given the nature of the crash, it’s evident to everyone except Pascal that no one is to blame. It was simply an unforeseen tragedy that no one could have prevented. Pascal also acts recklessly at work by putting himself in danger while on a call and forces Firehouse 51 to help him investigate the crash to prove liability on the other driver’s part.