Chicago Fire fans are going to see a lot more of Firehouse 51’s newest member when she show returns to television in January.
Deadline reports that actor Alberto Rosende, who joined the NBC drama as a recurring guest star in season 8, has been promoted to a series regular. His character Blake Gallo was first introduced in the second episode and made a strong impression as a young recruit with impressive skills but impulsive tendencies.
“I’m glad you got to meet Blake Gallo! A huge thank you to the Chicago Fire Department and all its members for allowing me to train with you to prepare for Gallo,” the actor wrote on Instagram after his Chicago Fire debut. “I had an amazing time getting a small insight into the incredible work that you do!”
In his few appearances throughout the first half of the season, Gallo quickly became known for taking reckless risks in the name of saving lives—making him a liability in the eyes of 51’s veterans. But there’s one thing that may have persuaded Chief Boden (Eamonn Walker) to let him join the crew anyway: Gallo wanted to become a firefighter because his entire family was killed in a house fire when he was a child.
