Stella Kidd’s Truck 81 has a new member, and it’s someone familiar with Firehouse 51, as hinted by a new Chicago Fire set image. It would be an understatement to say that Chicago Fire season 12 was chock-full of changes for Kelly Severide and the rest of his co-workers. The year kicked off with the departure of Blake Gallo and was capped off with the exit of Chief Wallace Boden. In between, Firehouse 51 also lost Sylvie Brett and Derrick Gibson. Coming into Chicago Fire season 13, the house will inevitably introduce some new characters.
In a new image from One Chicago gaffer Anthony Lullo on Instagram, a character matrix shows that Katelynn Shennett’s Kylie Estevez is supposedly part of Kidd’s Truck 81 roster in Chicago Fire season 13. Check out the snap below:
The photo comes from Lullo’s update on social media as production begins for Chicago Fire season 13. Kylie debuted in season 8 and has since become a recurring character on the show. If this new image pans out, it means viewers will see her more often than her usual role in One Chicago.
Kylie has been on Chicago Fire for years. She has been witness to some of the show’s most intense moments, but she has never been a proper part of Firehouse 51 until now. However, one must go back to her origins to understand why seeing her with Truck 81 is so special. In Chicago Fire season 8, Kidd launched her Girls On Fire initiative. Back then, it was far from the successful endeavor that it is now. Kylie was the program’s first recruit, and since then, she and Kidd have developed a strong relationship.
Despite already becoming a firefighter in Chicago Fire season 12, Kylie insisted on being part of a different Firehouse. She was adamant that she wanted to carve her path in her chosen career. This resulted in Gibson joining Truck 81 as a replacement for Gallo instead. With him gone, Sam Carver’s status unclear, and Jack Damon’s lineage as Benny Severide’s son complicated, Kidd can use a trusted and familiar face to ensure that everything runs smoothly for her team while all these issues wait to be resolved. This makes Kylie’s potential transfer to Firehouse 51 so exciting.
Between this and Ambo 61 deciding on Sylvie Brett’s replacement ahead of the new year, Firehouse 51 has fewer worries entering Chicago Fire season 13. Finding Boden’s successor is already going to be a tumultuous process. The former Battalion Chief previously chose Christopher Hermann to be Firehouse 51’s next leader. However, subsequent reports claim that NBC and Wolf Entertainment are deviating from that plan.
