Key 'Chicago Fire' Cast Member Exits Series in Shakeup

One of the thing we love about our Chicago Fire first responders is that they act on what they think is the right thing, even when it doesn’t always get them the result they hoped for. Normally, it works out for the best, but in the instance of Chief Dom  Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), on tonight’s episode, he paid the price.

Word was that Mulroney was not going to be appearing in the back half of the season, and the crossover episode set up his exit, which happened tonight when he was given his walking papers by the Chicago F.D. He was terminated for conduct unbecoming and relieved of his duty, effective immediately.

Last week, Pascal ignored orders from the FBI to not enter an apartment after an explosion, but he felt it compelled to save the data that was on the computer hard drives in the apartment that was essential to figuring out exactly what the chemical was that killed a plane full of people as well as Macy  (Carlita Tucker). Without the precise chemical, doctors at med were going to be unable to save lives and four members of Firehouse 51 were in the hospital close to death. He got the hard drives, but he also got arrested.

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At the end of the crossover episode, Pascal was released from jail after being arrested by the FBI, but then he was called on the carpet by the Chicago FD to answer for his “sins.”

“There are a lot of ramifications coming out of this, and it’s not going to be easy for him,” showrunner Andrea Newman told Parade when interviewed for the crossover episode. “I think for Pascal, this is part of this journey that we’ve talked about, which is he started as an outsider. He started as somebody who was coming in to replace Boden (Eamonn Walker), the beloved Chief Boden, and he was happy to be an outsider and happy to keep a distance, but then things changed and he got closer and closer, especially when his wife died last season and the firehouse came together for him. I think all of a sudden, he realized how connected he was to these people in a way that he didn’t expect. The crossover pays that off in the ultimate way, which he makes the biggest sacrifice for both 51 and the firehouse and for PD as well, for his cohort in the past, Voight (Jason Beghe).”

Pascal knew keeping his job wasn’t an option after his arrest, but he didn’t expect to be fired after 30 years of working as a fireman.

“They came down harder than I expected. This will be my last shift at 51,” Pascal said during the episode, explaining they needed to make an example of him.  “What’s done is done. I’ve made peace with it.”

Related: #OneChicago Bosses Break Down the Deadly Plane Disaster and Why That Character Had to Die in Explosive 2026 Crossover (Exclusive)

He announced that Chief Hopkins will be overseeing 51, along with five other houses in the immediate future.

Pascal made the most of his final day – at least for now – and he met with each of the members of the firehouse to wrap things up.

Most memorable was his meeting with Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) in which he tells her, “Let me be clear with you now. You are an exceptional leader, Lieutenant, and I am proud to have been your chief.” And he ends it by telling her she has “endless potential.”

But even so, he leaves his office and a captain’s manual to Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), who will be running Firehouse 51 for now.

Chicago Fire airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Streams next day on Peacock.

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