Eamonn Walker has departed Chicago Fire, and a new chief will be taking

over at the start of Season 13. However, it’s going to be an original character in the

role rather than a current character from the cast stepping up.

Per Deadline, Herrmann (David Eigenberg) won’t be the new chief on the series, despite the show seemingly setting up that storyline in Season 12. Reportedly, the chief will be an original character named Dom Pascal, described as beginning his career with the CFD after previously serving as a fire chief in Miami, Florida. The character, which hasn’t yet been cast, is further described as “a cheerful person who works well under pressure, and whose leadership style differs from Boden’s. He and his wife are estranged.”
Chicago Fire is a highly successful series in the One Chicago franchise. Though the series isn’t over, there are already some iconic episodes.

Eamonn Walker had starred as Battalion Chief Wallace Boden since the show’s first season. In the finale of Season 12, titled “Never Say Goodbye,” the Chicago Fire character was appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of the CFD. That allowed him to step down as a series regular but still continue to make appearances in a recurring role. Other cast member exits during Season 12 included Kara Killmer’s Sylvie Brett and Alberto Rosende’s Blake Gallo.

Eamonn Walker Left as Series Regular After 12 Seasons
“[In] storytelling and in terms of real life, 12 years is a long time and things need to change, just dynamic-wise. You want new characters and you want new dynamics,” showrunner Andrea Newman said about the cast member exits in a TVLine interview. “Actor-wise, 12 years is a long [time]. Nobody expects in TV [that] they’re going to be anywhere for 12 years, I can say that for sure, from all sides.”

Chicago Fire has featured many characters that have come and gone over the years. But why did a fan-favorite like Sylvie Brett leave the series?