A Problem House is the first episode of the second season and the 25th overall episode of Chicago Fire.
Summary[]
While Severide faces a dangerous arsonist, Firehouse 51 takes on new blood and new rules to avoid shuttering its doors due to budget cuts.
Plot[]
At lunch together, Shay and Severide discuss their upcoming move and Renée's baby. Shay questions the due date, not convinced that the baby's his, but Severide dismisses her as just jealous.
Later, the firemen descend on a burning two-story house that explodes into an inferno. A collapse sends Severide to the basement and a daring rescue saves his life. But outside the building, he sees a number spray painted on the side of the house - 1751. It's the same as his badge number!
Back at the firehouse, Boden makes an announcement: due to budget cuts, the city shut down Firehouse 33, and Firehouse 51 could be next unless they institute some uncomfortable changes. Everyone reels as he explains the new rules - no overtime, shared lockers - directives straight from Gail McLeod, the city's no-nonsense consultant.
Source: NBC.com
This leads to more news - two firemen from Firehouse 33, Spellman and Clarke, will be joining the house, a move that originally prevented Mills shifting from Truck 81 to Squad 3. As Mouch and Herrmann bristle about how the current union president will react to these changes, they spot a car on fire outside the station - Severide's. And this time, there's no doubt - it's arson and Severide's the target.
Casey sneaks in a spare moment to buy a round of drinks for Heather Darden on the anniversary of Andy's death, an event that still weighs heavy on their minds. Another bittersweet celebration occurs across town as Mouch sends off his Japanese girlfriend Mari. Although she prophesizes his greatness due to his small eyes, Mouch struggles to believe her until he returns to the station and spots a campaign poster for the union president. He tears it in half and announces his candidacy - just as the alarm sounds.
Source: NBC.com
Another residential fire blazes away, this time across two midrise buildings. The flames jump to the second floor, trapping Shay and Dawson as they tend to an unconscious woman. Casey and Severide use a ladder to bridge two windows and, as the fire rages on behind them, Dawson, Shay and the victim carefully inch across to safety. Afterwards, Clarke, the latest addition to 51, discovers an apparatus in the building - the same kind that ignited Severide's car.
Source: NBC.com
At Molly's, Herrmann, Dawson, Otis and Cruz watch yet another group of patrons exit in favor of Game Day, the bustling sports bar across the street. Can they compete with that place? Even Cruz admits that Game Day's super fun - he has the photos to prove it.
That night, Gail McLeod summons Clarke to CFD headquarters and assigns him a difficult task: to be her secret insider at Firehouse 51. He resists until she blackmails him, leaving him without a choice. Meanwhile, another call brings the squad to the scene of a serious collision involving a DUI…and a car Casey immediately recognizes. He sprints across the street to the handcuffed culprit - Heather Darden. Before police drive her away, she pleads with Casey to watch her two young boys, Griffin and Ben.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Jesse Spencer as Lieutenant Matthew Casey
- Taylor Kinney as Lieutenant Kelly Severide
- Monica Raymund as Paramedic in Charge Gabriela Dawson
- Lauren German as Paramedic Leslie Shay
- Charlie Barnett as Firefighter Candidate Peter Mills
- David Eigenberg as Firefighter Christopher Herrmann
- Joe Minoso as Firefighter Joe Cruz
- Yuri Sardarov as Firefighter Brian "Otis" Zvonecek
- Christian Stolte as Firefighter Randy "Mouch" McHolland
- Eamonn Walker as Battalion Chief Wallace Boden
Recurring Cast[]
- Randy Flagler as Firefighter Harold Capp
- Jeff Hephner as Firefighter Jeff Clarke
- John Hoogenakker as Lieutenant Spellman
- Chaon Cross as Heather Darden
- Charlie Babbo as Ben Darden
- John Babbo as Griffin Darden
- Larisa Polonsky as Zoya
- Michelle Forbes as Gail McLeod
- Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead
- LaRoyce Hawkins as Kevin Atwater
- Jon Seda as Antonio Dawson
- Mia Park as Nurse Beth
Guest Cast[]
- Steve Pickering as Chief Raglund
- Brian Velez as Engine Firefighter Velez
- Cindy Chang as Mari
- Tosin Morohunfola as Tyrelle
- Tawny Newsome as Jen
- Kalen Harriman as Harried Daughter
Notes and Trivia[]
- This episode reveals that it has now been a year since Andy's death since the pilot episode.