30 Best Chicago Fire Episodes Ranked

If you're producer Dick Wolf and you've already conquered the world of police and law in New York City with the "Law & Order" franchise, what do you do next? Head to the Windy City, and bring to life a series set in another civil service, of course. 

Launching in 2012, Wolf served as executive producer for "Chicago Fire," kicking off his second sprawling television franchise, which would later become known as "One Chicago." Created by the writing team of Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, the scribes behind James Mangold's "3:10 To Yuma," the series would quickly spawn multiple spin-offs, including "Chicago P.D.," "Chicago Med," and "Chicago Justice." 

Heavy on heart, high on drama, and filled with explosive action, "Chicago Fire" has been thrilling viewers for a decade and doesn't seem to be slowing down. With over 200 episodes and counting, it's hard to find the best, but we've done our homework and ranked its top 30. 

"That Day" is a crossover episode, guest-starring characters from both "Chicago P.D." and "Chicago Med." First, Sylvia and Detective Antonio Dawson finally take their relationship past the flirtation stage, as she surprises the officer with an overture at his doorstep. As Boden tries to show his stepson James the ropes around the firehouse to convince him to join the company, a call to a scene leads to a difficult situation when Gabby hits a pedestrian, who quickly lawyers up and sues the department.

Gabby, meanwhile, is in hot water over the crash and is heavily scrutinized by the department superiors. While the supervisors put her under a microscope, her fellow officers stick by her side. To round out the episode, there's also a more light-hearted subplot that sees Hermann trying to prove himself when he's up for a big promotion.

"Law of the Jungle" closed out the first half of the sixth season with one of the most exciting episodes to date. Juggling a number of stories, the episode starts with a traffic accident involving a sheriff's van, and the inmate in the back isn't making it any easier on their attempt to save the wounded driver. When Severide takes off to chase the escaping con down, it leads to another round of questions, this time from Chief Grissom, about how the company does its job. However, further trouble arises when the driver dies from his injuries.

Of course, there's personal drama here too, with Brett stuck with Mouch at a spa, while Stella won't shut up about Severide while on her date with recurring guest star Zach. Just when you thought they couldn't pack any more drama into the episode, a gas leak leads to a fiery finale.

A silent child shows up at the firehouse in "Until the Weather Breaks." Clearly traumatized, it becomes clear that something sinister has happened to the young boy, who refuses to say anything. It's up to the officers at Firehouse 51 to keep him safe and find the person responsible, which proves easier said than done.

At the same time, Otis comes across a shadowy man named John, who claims to be a firefighter from Detroit with a broken-down car, although the gun he's carrying says otherwise. His suspicious questions about the young boy they're giving safe harbor to also suggests he may be involved in the child's situation. The team knows something is fishy, and when Otis confronts him about his real identity, things take an unexpectedly violent turn.

It's the first part of a massive franchise crossover in "Infection Part 1," a story that will pass through all three "One Chicago" series, with "Chicago Med" and "Chicago P.D." rounding out the three-part event. A taut thriller, the story opens at a tailgate party when a fan goes down in a seizure, apparently afflicted with a flesh-eating disease. After the patient is rushed to the hospital, the crossover begins with appearances from Dr. Halstead and Dr. Manning, who are on hand to manage the patient. 

While the doctors at first declare the disease is not contagious, that proves to be an incorrect diagnosis when an emergency call to an apartment complex yields multiple victims with the same affliction. What was once a single tragedy becomes a full-blown epidemic in the Windy City. When the CDC is called in, Chicago finds itself in the throes of a city-wide panic.

"Just Drive the Truck" is a third season installment that sees trouble in the firehouse when two trucks get into a nasty collision. It starts as an ordinary call, but another truck from rival Firehouse 105 isn't looking to help but instead trying to steal the spotlight, turning the race to the scene into a competition. An accident at an intersection between the two engines creates a second, more immediate crisis, with the 105th's truck sustaining the worst of it. Their firefighters are in rough shape, and an emergency rescue gets underway.

The fallout from the crash is swift, with Cruz's actions being questioned, but it's Mills who's pulled off duty when it's discovered he suffers from a form of vertigo. Over at "Chicago Med," a firefighter from Firehouse 105 is in critical condition, and it's found that Cruz may have run through a red light, and may face serious consequences. 

In the third season finale "Spartacus," Severide and Casey are still not seeing eye to eye over Rice, with Casey accusing Severide's former friend of being the cause of the problems at the firehouse. Tension continues to run high between the squad and the truck crew, which comes to a head on the first call of the episode before Chief Boden chastises them for their childish behavior. After catching Rice in a lie, however, Severide finally comes around and confronts him.

On another call, Gabby gets trapped inside a burning building, and it's Boden himself who picks up a mask and goes in to rescue her, ordering everyone else to stay outside. With Severide inside helping Gabby stay alive, it will have to be another narrow escape if everyone is to make it out alive. As a season-ender, however, nothing is guaranteed.

"No Regrets" sees Boden confronting the very real possibility that he may have lung cancer, as several other members of the squad he was a part of in 1985 have died of the same cause. Firehouse 51 is at risk of closing, and McCloud uses the issue as leverage to get the chief to retire early. When Boden announces his exit, the company is stunned, but a sudden siren call interrupts the proceedings and sends the company on a crisis call.

When the crew of Firehouse 51 arrive at the scene of a derailed train, they find dozens of injured passengers trapped near a propane tanker that got loose. Now with no backup, thanks to McLeod's recent political gambits, they're on their own to attempt a rescue and must work against the clock to get everyone out before the tanker explodes.

In another story of life and death, "Nobody Else Is Dying Today" has Casey working outside the firehouse and when he is caught in a deadly factory accident. An acid tank begins spraying harmful toxins, which forces Casey and a young woman named Laurel to hide inside a break room to escape the fumes. However, that's only a stop-gap measure, as they're not truly out of danger and must break their way through a neighboring wall to get to safety. 

Unable to call for help and unable to create a passageway big enough for himself to crawl through, it'll be up to Laurel to make it out and get Casey's friends at Firehouse 51 to come to their rescue. Otis and Cruz provide the episodes with lighter elements as they attempt to out-prank each other.

One of the things that makes "One Chicago" such a unique franchise is the frequent crossover of characters, and Season 6's "The Chance to Forgive" gives us a double dose, with Dr. Choi of "Chicago Med" and Detective Lawson of "Chicago P.D." both appearing. In the episode, the company is called to a scene only to be met by violent gunfire. However, it's not from a crazed gunman but from a stash of live ammunition in a burning household going off in the blaze.

Stella and Otis are hit by stray rounds, and Severide comes to the rescue, getting them out of harm's way. Taking them to the hospital, Choi tells the crew that Otis is in critical condition with a bullet lodged close to his spinal cord.

Stella and Kelly continue their hunt for a serial arsonist from one of Benny's old cases in season seven's emotional season finale, "I'm Not Leaving You." Working closely together, the pair grow closer again, and it seems they might be rekindling their past relationship. The question is, will it last this time? That's not the only relationship that is rekindled either, as Kyle proposes to Sylvie Brett, and he gets a surprising "yes."

The episode is lighter on the action than usual but sees an end to a bitter rivalry as Grissom finally steps aside and puts an end to the political games that caused so much turmoil all season long. With no shocking revelations or major tragedies, fans were left to wonder what disaster might strike in the following season.

Part one of a two-part crossover event with "Chicago P.D.," the second season episode "A Dark Day" depicts a tragedy ripped from national headlines. The episode opens with a team-up of the two crews in a charity event held outside the city hospital. Just as the race gets underway, disaster strikes when a bomb detonates, ripping through the hospital. When the dust settles, it's all-out chaos, with victims everywhere dead or dying.

But as the P.D. and F.D. get to work, it becomes clear that this isn't the end of the danger, as they suspect the culprit may have more explosives hidden elsewhere. Together with the two teams of Chicago's finest and bravest work together to aid surviving victims, prevent further catastrophe, and catch a killer.

In a backdoor pilot for the new spinoff "Chicago Med," the Season 3 episode "I Am the Apocalypse" guest stars Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Halstead, Yaya DaCosta as April Sexton, S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin, and Oliver Platt as Dr. Charles. It all starts with a catastrophic chemical leak that brings Firehouse 51's best to the scene, who unfortunately all wind up at the hospital.

The doctors spring into action, working furiously to save the injured, and must quarantine the company out of fear they might have an infectious disease. As the crisis unfolds, it becomes an outright disaster when one of the victims reveals himself as a suicide bomber. 

Part one of a highly publicized three-part crossover, "Deathtrap" would be followed by episodes of "Chicago P.D." and the short-lived "Chicago Justice." Beyond those follow-up chapters, the episode also includes most of the cast of "Chicago Med." The story begins when the company is called to a massive fire that breaks out at an abandoned factory used as a living space where a large party is being thrown. With countless people trapped inside, the situation becomes personal when Olinsky, a character from "Chicago P.D.," realizes his daughter may be at risk.

As dozens of victims are pulled out and rushed to the hospital, firefighters and doctors alike are working harder than ever. However, when the crisis abates, it becomes clear that the fire is no accident, and the Chicago P.D. may have an arsonist on their hands.

The Season 5 episode "Carry Me" is another emotional heartbreaker with another tragic loss. The episode opens with Severide refusing to accept Anna's dire situation. He gets a good distraction when he responds to a house fire where a woman refuses to leave her home. The woman is going through her own struggles and the pair trade stories. She reveals that having recently lost her husband, she can't stand the thought of losing her home, the last remnant of their life together. 

Helping her recognize when it's time to let go, Severide has a moment where he understands that he needs to do the same. Meanwhile, Casey and Boden work to save Kendall's career after a disciplinary panel, but it seems the beleaguered firefighter doesn't actually want their help.

The Season 5 finale "My Miracle" will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, and this one's a cliffhanger, too. First, both truck and squad are called to the scene of a car trapped teetering on the edge of a bridge, and there's a child inside. After saving the kid, Hermann forms a bond with the young boy through their shared love of baseball. 

However, nothing can prepare them for what comes next, as a massive building fire gets out of control, forcing Boden to order his crew out. When Mouch is stricken with a heart attack, and Herrmann and Severide are trapped inside with no escape, the episode abruptly ends, and we're left to wonder who'll survive to the next season in one of the absolute best episodes of "Chicago Fire."