Find out why Stella and several Firehouse 51 fan favorites were M.I.A. during Fire’s latest.
Firehouse 51 has been put to the test as the drama of Season 14 of Chicago Fire continues to heat up, and some One Chicago fan favorites are pulled from their typical posts.
Amid shake-ups at the CFD, the Firehouse 51 firefighters have been navigating some stressful autocratic changes. As if the slashed hours, transferred shifts, and devastating budget cuts weren’t stressful enough, the termination of Firehouse 51’s beloved Chief, Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), has only elevated tensions. Pascal tapped Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) as the next Chief of Firehouse 51, encouraging him to take the Captains exam to get the promotion moving along. After taking the exam, Severide returned to his post just as the CFD pulled some administrative nonsense, again.
Find out why Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and several Firehouse 51 were away from their posts on Chicago Fire Season 14, Episode 16 (“Firehouse 66”), below.
Where was Stella Kidd on Chicago Fire? (April 1, 2026)
Chicago Fire’s April 1 episode wasted no time addressing the distinct lack of first responders after Chief Assistant Lucy (Jeanine Mason) reported to Lt. Severide after he returned to 51.
“Saw the schedule. No truck or engine, no Ambo,” Lucy noted. “Everyone off except Squad?
“Yeah, we’re spread thin,” Severide confirmed. “Counting on you to pick up the slack.”
Severide had bigger fish to fry with news of a pop-in from interim Battalion Chief Andre Hopkins, Pascal’s replacement. Firehouse 51 has a glimmering reputation within the CFD, and Hopkins was eager to see if it lived up to its fame. But Hopkins was impossible to please; he was annoyed by Severide already moving belongings into Pascal’s office, the outdated facilities, and the laissez-faire social policies.
Severide called Stella just to hear her voice
After pulling Severide into his office, Hopkins told him that he didn’t appear to like abiding by protocol, voicing concerns about the in-house relationship between two lieutenants. While Severide was quick to explain that several Chiefs had approved that arrangement, Hopkins shrugged this off.
“The rules are still rules,” Hopkins said. “Pascal might have OK’d all of it, an in-house relationship, a Lieutenant with his own front office. But Pascal isn’t the Battalion Chief anymore, I am. And I need to make sure this place is in good hands when I’m not around, or else there will have to be changes.”
Knowing Hopkins’ visit was going poorly, Severide gave Stella a call after his tense altercation with the Chief.
“I know you won’t get this today, I just wanted to hear your voice anyway,” Severide said while leaving a voicemail. “Something’s going on with this new Chief, feels like he’s gunning for me. I gotta figure out what’s going on. Anyway, give me a call back whenever you get out of there, whatever time it is. Love you.”
After some digging, Severide discovered that Hopkins used to work under his late father, Benny Severide, where a multi-decade CFD grudge began. Severide confronted Hopkins over the matter, but the Battalion Chief remained hardened. Hopkins deplored nepotism and Firehouse 51’s culture of favoritism, and with the CFD’s restructuring, he was uniquely equipped to end it.
Hopkins gravely revealed that upon his initial review, he’d decided to make Firehouse 51 his permanent home base to be where he was most needed. Despite passing the Chief exam with flying colors, Severide’s hands are tied, but he’s refusing to go down without a fight.
Watch Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.