Chicago Fire, NBC’s long-running firefighter series, is saying goodbye to one of its own.
On tonight’s episode, Kara Killmer is departing the show she’s called home for a decade. Why is Kara Killmer leaving Chicago Fire? Learn the reason for her surprising exit below.
Chicago Fire is Dick Wolf’s successful firefighter drama that’s run for 12 seasons on NBC. Kara Killmer joined in September 2014 to replace the late Leslie Shay (played by Lauren German), who was killed in the Season 3 premiere. Killmer portrays Sylvie Brett, the Paramedic in Charge of Firehouse 51. She’s also held recurring roles as Brett in fellow One Chicago shows Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.
The latest season of the procedural returned on January 17 after production delays stemming from the now-resolved Hollywood strikes. In November 2023, Variety reported that Season 12 of Chicago Fire would be Killmer’s last. It was unknown how many episodes the actress would appear in at the time and why she was leaving the show.
Now, ahead of Sylvie Brett’s final episode, we finally have answers. Read on to learn why Kara Killmer decided to exit Chicago Fire and all the details surrounding her bittersweet last episode.
Everything We Know About ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 12
Why is Sylvie Brett leaving Chicago Fire? Kara Killmer, who portrays the beloved paramedic, told TV Line that she felt like her time as Sylvie was over, and she’s excited “to see what other projects are out there.”
“It’s definitely been so humbling and aspirational to be playing a first responder for this long. I couldn’t be happier to have been in this story space, getting to work with real firefighters and paramedics this long. If you’re going to spend 10 years somewhere, you want to spend it in a place like our show, for sure,” the actress explained. “But yeah, I’m very excited to see what else is out there on the horizon. There’s a lot of interesting content that’s being created right now. And I’m very satisfied with where things end up for Sylvie on Fire.”
Killmer also expanded on what she felt was a “natural conclusion” to the end of Sylvie’s character. “I sort of love that she started her journey [when] she was dumped at the altar by her high school boyfriend and runs off to Chicago to start over again, and I love that she ends up across the aisle from the love of her life and, obviously, the most eligible bachelor in all of Chicago and Portland,” she continued. “It’s just so satisfying to get to see her have everything that she always wanted and to see the kind of woman she’s become, the sort of paramedic she’s become. She’s really stepped into her own, and so, this is a natural conclusion for her.”
Killmer revealed to Deadline that she wouldn’t be opposed to returning to Chicago Fire one day, just as her co-star and on-screen partner Jesse Spencer has done. “You never know what’s going to happen at 51,” Killmer said. “I think we’ve proven that we love to see familiar faces come back through which is also very true of a real firehouse. It’s a brotherhood and a family bond for life. I could see that happening and I would be more than happy to pop back in.”
When Is Sylvie Brett’s Last Episode On Chicago Fire?
Sylvie Brett’s last episode on Chicago Fire is Season 12, Episode 6, “Port in the Storm,” which airs on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Killmer’s final episode features the anticipated wedding of her character and former Firehouse 51 Captain Matthew Casey (Spencer). Casey proposed to Brett during the Season 11 finale, but the episode ended before viewers could learn her answer.
In the Season 12 premiere, fans learned that Brett officially said yes. “The relationship that they had had this like three-year build-up. And I think the writers and the fans all kind of felt like he’s the one,” Killmer explained to Deadline. “I think that those two characters were, as they repeatedly say, they were meant to be. So it’s only appropriate that she would end up with him, which I’m so satisfied with.”
While shooting her last
episode was “bittersweet, but more sweet than bitter, for sure,” Killmer loves that one of her final moments as Brett was “one giant party that helped make it a great send-off,” she added.
Instead of replacing Killmer with a new character, Chicago Fire promoted one of their own. Violet Mikami (portrayed by Hanako Greensmith) will become the new Paramedic in Charge. “That’s part of the great Violet journey this year, as she continues to grow as a character and gets to step into a leadership position on ambo, too,” series showrunner Andrea Newman told TVLine.
Chicago Fire airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. Watch the teaser for tonight’s episode and tune in to see Killmer’s final bow.
