Chicago Fire season 14, episode 3 (“In the Blood”) aired on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and it wastes no time showing how citywide budget decisions ripple through Firehouse 51. Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney) learns Engine 51 is pulled with less than two hours’ notice, Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte) is suddenly off the board, and a shift-crushing ambulance crash pushes Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) and Lizzy/Lyla Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) to fight for reforms. Meanwhile, Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) steadies the house as Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) struggles to connect with Isaiah (Hero Hunter), and Sal Vasquez (Brandon Larracuente) quietly digs into his father’s past.
The budget-cut gut punch hits at roll call
The hour opens with Pascal convening the house to announce Engine 51’s brownout and Mouch’s unexpected absence. In his first scene, Pascal spells out the whiplash of centralized decisions hitting the rank-and-file—Engine 51 is out and 51 has to “keep rolling with the punches” until HQ restores coverage. Mouch’s removal reshuffles duties across the house and foreshadows bigger shake-ups to come.
Pascal refuses to let this become routine. He heads downtown, where he’s told six battalion chiefs are slated to be let go citywide. Back at 51, he confides in Severide about looming consolidations and asks him to step up even more on the floor.
View this post on Instagram
Violet & Novak follow the evidence from an ambulance crash
51’s first major call is an ambulance collision with no obvious external cause. The injured paramedic—Murphy—was a friend of Violet’s from the academy. Violet and Novak start running down possibilities and discover a hard truth: Murphy fell asleep at the wheel after punishing schedules. The pair escalate to Paramedic Field Chief Robinson, pushing for a fix that protects EMTs who are being stretched thin.
The solution Violet floats is pragmatic: redeploy firefighters to ride with paramedics during brownouts so crews aren’t driving exhausted and solo. It’s a stopgap, but it could stem the immediate risk while leadership wrangles the budget.
Severide balances risk, leadership, and family
Severide gets the hairiest stunt of the week when Squad must board a runaway boat to reach an unconscious driver. He executes the jump, the driver is pulled to safety, and Herrmann (David Eigenberg) resets a young passenger’s Nursemaid’s Elbow onsite before she reunites with her dad. Severide’s calm under pressure contrasts with his at-home role, where he gently reassures Kidd that bonding with Isaiah takes time.
Kidd & Isaiah: a fragile bond meets a medical setback
Kidd tries small, concrete acts to connect—like getting Isaiah replacement shoes identical to his worn pair. She agrees to accelerate a visit to his mom, only to learn at the hospital that Isaiah’s mother suffered a serious setback earlier that day: fluid around the brain required an emergency procedure, and she’s now intubated in a medically induced coma. Isaiah rushes to her bedside, leaving Kidd more determined—and more anxious—about how to show up for him.
Vasquez opens the door to a buried family case
The episode threads in a personal mystery for Vasquez. A friend from the Police Academy flags that Vasquez’s father—an ex-cop imprisoned for planting evidence—is coming up for parole. Vasquez pushes to review the Biance case file, hinting he believes there’s more to the story. Whether this becomes a full-blown arc or a slow-burn character study, episode 3 plants a clear seed.
Where was Mouch? The show answers on-screen—and his future is bright
Mouch’s absence is explained in the opening minutes when Pascal relays the brownout. Later, showrunner Andrea Newman and Christian Stolte reflect on Mouch’s evolution. Stolte calls playing the Season 14 lieutenant “a hard-won honor,” while Newman praises being able to “change a character, grow a character, [and] evolve a character” over 14 years. Those insights frame Mouch’s short-term absence as a scheduling byproduct—not a step back.
Exclusive quotes: Pascal tells the house the brains at HQ bumped Engine 51 “with less than two hours’ notice.” Christian Stolte adds, “It is a hard-won honor to be able to play that,” and Newman highlights the “rare… scope” to watch Mouch’s evolution over 14 seasons. (NBC Insider)
Episode 4 preview: Herrmann’s home is the next five-alarm
The promo and studio stills for episode 1404, “Mercy,” tease the most personal crisis yet: Herrmann’s house is on fire. In the footage, he bolts for the door as the address comes over the radio and blurts, “That’s my house,” then worries aloud, “Annabelle stayed home today.” The photo set shows Severide and Mouch at Herrmann’s side, Kidd in command mode, and Isaiah at home with Severide. The official description promises that 51 will “band together,” Vasquez will continue chasing answers, and Violet/Novak will hit “an unexpected roadblock” in their training protocol.
Cast & character roll call (every name mentioned this week)
- Kelly Severide — Taylor Kinney
- Stella Kidd — Miranda Rae Mayo
- Randall “Mouch” McHolland — Christian Stolte
- Christopher Herrmann — David Eigenberg
- Sal Vasquez — Brandon Larracuente
- Isaiah — Hero Hunter
- Chief Dom Pascal — Dermot Mulroney
- Annette Davis (Mayor’s chief of staff)
- Paramedic Field Chief Robinson
- Lizzy/Lyla Novak — Jocelyn Hudon (name appears as “Lyla” in one photo credit and “Lizzy” in another; both forms are used across current coverage)
- Murphy — paramedic and Violet’s academy friend
- Pierce — paramedic partner involved in the crash
Numbers, dates, and decisions to watch
- Air date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 (Episode 1403, “In the Blood”).
- Engine 51 pulled: with less than two hours’ notice, initiating a brownout and sidelining Mouch.
- Leadership cuts: plan to eliminate six battalion chief positions across the city.
Analysis: Why “In the Blood” lands
The hour connects macro stakes to daily workflow, then funnels that pressure through people fans care about. Violet’s fix isn’t a grand policy solution—it’s an operational patch that addresses the most dangerous failure mode: exhausted EMTs behind the wheel. Kidd’s story stays intimate and humane; a single pair of shoes says more about Isaiah’s recent past than any monologue. Severide’s calm on a moving boat doubles as a visual for what Pascal needs from him at 51: a steady hand as politics churn.
External reaction has been strong. One reviewer writes, “I really liked this episode,” and singled out Kidd “overcom[ing] her fears of being a parent” while also spotlighting the “loss of 6 Battalion Chiefs” as a “gripping storyline.” Another highlight: praise for Hero Hunter’s “emotionally raw” final scene.
What’s next for season 14
Episode 1404 (“Mercy”) turns the budget story into a homefront emergency for Herrmann and sets up a test for Violet and Novak’s training plan. Vasquez’s search for the truth about his father moves from rumor to paperwork. And with Pascal asking Severide to take on more leadership at 51, the house will need to keep executing under pressure while Mouch returns to his new post.
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC; episodes stream the next day on Peacock. Season 14 continues next week with episode 4, “Mercy.”
With a collective experience in film analysis and entertainment journalism, our team, comprised of avid movie buffs, has always been on the frontline of exploring cinematic universes, from the enchanting realms of Disney to the action-packed scenes of the MCU.
Our passion has led us to exclusive interviews with notable figures, early access, and active participation in the industry.
Recognized by the press, we dive deep into various genres, including drama, cartoons, comedy, and foreign films, always eager to bring fresh insights to our readers.
Connect with us or explore our journey to learn more about our adventures in unraveling the magic of the big screen.
