Chicago Fire has reached a milestone few television series ever achieve. The cast and crew wrapped filming on the show’s 300th episode in Chicago last week, marking the occasion with a celebration that included Chicago Fire creator and executive producer Dick Wolf, who was in town for the milestone.
And this was no small cake-and-coffee gathering. Among the touches marking 300 episodes was a massive ice sculpture created for the celebration.
The milestone comes as Chicago Fire prepares to release its 15th season on NBC. The 300th episode will be the fifth episode of the new season, and there is already plenty of intrigue surrounding it.
About the 300th Episode
Members of the show’s past are expected to be part of the milestone episode, although exactly who will return has not been officially revealed.
Reel Chicago knows at least one major familiar face who will be back. We’re not telling.
After 14 seasons and 300 episodes, some surprises are better left for the screen.
Chicago Fire premiered on NBC in 2012, introducing viewers to the firefighters, rescue squad members and paramedics of the fictional Firehouse 51. What began as a single Chicago-set drama eventually grew into Dick Wolf’s entire One Chicago franchise, adding Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med.
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More importantly for Chicago’s production community, the franchise stayed here.
For more than a decade, the One Chicago shows have filmed primarily in Chicago, employing local crews and working with stages, locations, vendors and businesses throughout the area. NBCUniversal has said the franchise has generated nearly $2 billion in economic impact in Illinois and collectively supports approximately 1,500 jobs during active production seasons.
Three hundred episodes represent an extraordinary amount of television produced in one city. Through cast changes, character departures, new stories and hundreds of fires and rescues, Chicago Fire has remained a fixture of NBC’s Wednesday night lineup and the series that launched the One Chicago universe.
And 300 episodes later, Firehouse 51 is still answering the call.
Season 15 of Chicago Fire premieres Wednesday, October 7 at 9 p.m. on NBC.
