After a suspenseful fall finale, Chicago Fire Season 14 is officially on hiatus, leaving fans with several burning questions. The next episode, Season 14 Episode 8, is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 9/8c on NBC. The episode will be available for streaming the next day on Peacock.
The fall finale, titled “Pierce the Veil,” ended with multiple characters in perilous situations, setting the stage for a high-stakes winter return.
When and Where to Watch Episode 8
The wait for new episodes will extend through the end-of-year holidays. The One Chicago lineup, including Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D., will all return on the same night in January.
- Release Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM Eastern Time / 8:00 PM Central Time on NBC
- Streaming: The episode will be available to stream on Peacock the following day, on January 8, 2026.
You can also catch up on previous seasons and episodes of the show on the Peacock platform.
Unresolved Cliffhangers from the Fall Finale
The fall finale left two major plot threads hanging, ensuring a tense and dramatic return for Firehouse 51.
Severide Trapped in a Suspicious Fire
Kelly Severide‘s investigation into a suspicious high school fire took a dangerous turn. After determining the fire was arson, he and Investigator Van Meter were at the apartment of the school’s principal, Mr. Cole, when someone set a new fire on the staircase, trapping them inside. The episode ended with Severide’s life in immediate danger, and the arsonist’s identity remains a mystery among 83 possible suspects from a “I Hate Mr. Cole” Facebook group.
The Fate of Engine 51
In a separate but equally threatening development, the future of Mouch and his team’s Engine 51 is at risk. During a lunch date with Chief Pascal, Herrmann’s wife, Annette, revealed unofficial plans to permanently decommission the engine due to city budget reallocation. Now that Chief Pascal is aware of the threat, the winter premiere will likely focus on his efforts to save the crucial piece of firehouse equipment and the jobs attached to it.
The Cast Returning to Firehouse 51
The main cast is set to return for the winter premiere, including:
- Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide
- Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd
- David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann
- Christian Stolte as Randall “Mouch” McHolland
- Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz
- Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami
- Jocelyn Hudon as Lizzie Novak
- Dermot Mulroney as Chief Dom Pascal
- Brandon Larracuente as Sal Vasquez
What to Expect in the Winter Premiere
While an official plot summary for Episode 8 has not yet been released by NBC, the episode will inevitably focus on resolving the life-threatening situation for Severide and Van Meter. The winter premiere will also need to address the looming budget cuts that threaten to shut down Engine 51, a move that would significantly impact the operations of Firehouse 51.
The return episode is expected to deliver the same mix of intense emergency calls and personal drama that fans have come to expect, picking up right where the fall finale left off.
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