One of the things Chicago Fire has always excelled at is keeping the memory of past characters alive, even long after they’ve departed—whether they left town or met a tragic end. This ability to seamlessly weave

in mentions of former firefighters and key figures adds to the depth of the show, making it feel like a real, connected family. Throughout the series, we often hear updates about characters who have moved on,

like Brett, Casey, and Boden, through casual conversations. For example, in a recent episode, Kidd brought up a conversation with Brett regarding her and Severide’s adoption plans. However, sometimes,

the show also honors those who have passed away, as seen in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 13, titled “Born of Fire.” In this episode, a seemingly lighthearted discussion unexpectedly revisited the devastating loss of Brian “Otis” Zvonecek.

At the beginning of the episode, Mouch mentions at breakfast that a fellow firefighter retired to Florida to raise sugar gliders, sparking a discussion about retirement dreams. Herrmann chimes in, expressing his desire to turn Molly’s into a legendary Chicago pub. This realization pushes him to take immediate action, leading to a fun subplot where he experiments with creating a signature cocktail for the bar.

Later in the episode, Mouch visits Molly’s before opening hours and inquires about the chosen cocktail. Herrmann reveals the winning drink: Born of Fire, a smoky martini inspired by Squad’s motto, reinforcing the firefighter spirit. As they chat, Mouch notices Herrmann’s enthusiasm for expanding Molly’s and asks how serious he is about the idea. Herrmann hesitates before replying, “Molly’s North was a hit… and it would still be running if Otis hadn’t… you know, if he was still around.”

Though a brief moment, this reference to Otis reopened an old storyline that hadn’t been addressed in a while—the short-lived success of Molly’s North. Back in Season 6, the bar expanded after teaming up with another pub, resulting in a thriving business. However, after Otis’s tragic death, his girlfriend Lily made the heartbreaking decision to close its doors, unable to continue without him.

For those who may not recall, Otis met his untimely end in the Season 8 premiere, “Sacred Ground.” While responding to a fire at a mattress factory, he was caught inside when a boiler exploded. Though the team managed to rescue him from the rubble and rush him to Med, his injuries proved fatal, and he passed away with Cruz by his side. His death shocked fans as one of the most significant losses in the series’ history.

Derek Haas, the showrunner at the time, later explained that Otis’s death was meant to remind viewers of the real dangers firefighters face daily. It wasn’t just a plot twist for shock value—the writers ensured that every character had a chance to grieve and process the loss in their own way.