Why 2025’s One Chicago Crossover Starts With Fire Instead of Med

The One Chicago franchise has an important reason for airing Chicago Fire before Chicago Med during the 2025 One Chicago crossover. The franchise typically airs standalone episodes of each show, with Chicago Med airing at 8 ET on Wednesday nights, followed by Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. One Chicago crossovers usually involve each segment of the show dealing with a different aspect of the same case. However, the shows are broadcast as separate segments rather than one three-hour show during these special events.

Crossovers used to be a regular event, but Dick Wolf Entertainment paused them after the COVID lockdowns because of safety concerns related to the pandemic. Thus, the 2025 special is the first One Chicago crossover in five years. This three-part story will feature the characters from Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD working together after a gas explosion at a government building leads to a mass casualty event.

Chicago Fire Opens The 2025 One Chicago Crossover Despite Med’s Timeslot

The Two Shows Are Switching Places

The crossover event, titled “In the Trenches,” has led to a scheduling change for Chicago Fire and Chicago Med on Wednesday, January 29. Instead of Chicago Med kicking off the evening, the story will begin with an episode of Chicago Fire, with the franchise’s medical drama taking the middle timeslot. Chicago PD will air last, as it does normally. This One Chicago schedule change is for this week only; the shows will return to their regular timeslots on February 5.

These types of schedule changes are common during crossover episodes. The first One Chicago crossover to feature all three shows also had Chicago Fire air before Chicago Med, as did the most recent crossover in 2019. There have also been several crossovers involving only Chicago Fire and Chicago PD, some of which began on the police drama rather than sticking to the regular schedule. These schedule changes are made to accommodate stories that begin at Firehouse 51 or at the police station and continue in the other One Chicago shows.

The 2025 One Chicago Crossover Story Is Kicked Off By A Firehouse 51 Call

The Three Teams Will Work Together After A Gas Explosion

In the case of the 2025 One Chicago crossover, the story begins when Firehouse 51 gets a call related to a gas explosion. Thus, Chicago Fire airs first since the call is a typical story for the fire and rescue series. Telling the story this way is more logical — while the call will lead to a mass casualty event, Gaffney Medical Center won’t need to treat victims until after the rescue workers have gotten them safely out of the affected area. If Chicago Med were to air first, the story of the rescue would have to be told via flashbacks, which would be a more confusing way to tell the story.

The description for 2025’s One Chicago crossover fits the pattern of many of these joint stories. Previous crossovers involve Firehouse 51 getting a call, leading to the need for the doctors on Chicago Med to treat patients and the police to get involved with finding the people responsible for creating a life-threatening disaster. The format leads to exciting stories that explain logically why all three shows are involved with the same case. Chicago Fire almost always airs first during such events, so it is not surprising that the schedule has been changed for the latest crossover.