Who could have ever imagined that 10 years ago, a fresh face brought to Firehouse 51 after an unfortunate turn of events would go on to become one of Chicago Fire’s most important and beloved characters. On February 16, 2016, the trajectory of Chicago Fire was forever changed for the better when Miranda Rae Mayo joined the cast of NBC’s hit firefighter drama and the One Chicago fans officially met Stella Kidd.
It all began late in season 4 when the writers shook things up at Firehouse 51 by bringing a new firefighter into the mix amid CFD budget cuts. In Chicago Fire season 4, episode 15, “Bad for the Soul,” we learned that the Auburn firehouse was shutdown and the CFD was relocating veteran firefighters to other firehouses in the district, including 51.
Kidd was one of the firefighters displaced by the Auburn firehouse’s closure and she would join the team on Truck, bumping Jimmy Borrelli back into the floater pool. (Jimmy would instead fill the vacancy on Ambulance 61, which allowed him to remain at 51 until his exit.) Upon her arrival, we learned that she and Gabby were old friends who worked together after their training at the fire academy and she immediatly hit it off with the 51 team.
When Kidd arrived at Firehouse 51, she was fresh off a separation from her husband, Grant, but it didn’t take long for sparks to begin flying. At the end of her debut episode, Kidd and Severide enjoyed their first scene together after shift while enjoying a drink at Molly’s. From the moment the pair met, the chemistry between them was absolutely magnetic and it was quickly established that the pair had some shared history.
We’d later come to learn that Kidd and Severide had met at a CFD training, and Severide was immediately smitten. He’d eventually shown up at her door with flowers and champagne in hand, but Kidd was still with her husband. After the encounter, the pair had put distance between them but fate clearly had other plans in place leading Kidd to 51. While the timing might not have been right when they first met, the pair were unable to fight their feelings and would eventually become romantically involved by the season’s end.
As the years rolled by, we watched as Kidd and Severide evolved into one of the greatest love stories in the One Chicago universe. Theirs is a story of love at first sight, and even before we knew the origins of their connection, it was clear in their first shared scene that the pair were going to make history together.
But Kidd’s impact on Chicago Fire should not be relegated simply to her romantic relationship with Severide. Yes, Kidd has become one half of Chicago Fire’s greatest love story, but she’s brought so much more to the show than just an iconic romantic pairing.
Over the last 10 years, Chicago Fire fans have gotten a front row seat to watching Kidd grow into a confident and respected member of Firehouse 51. Her promotion to lieutenant marked a major moment not just for her character, but in the show’s representation in giving viewers the opportunity to see a strong woman in a leadership role within the CFD. Kidd has consistently proven that leadership is not about rank alone, but about integrity, resilience, and accountability, and shown how an individual in a place of authority can lead with empathy.
Her mentorship of younger firefighters and her advocacy for women through the Girls on Fire program highlight her commitment to changing the culture of the fire service. This mentorship has extended to all those who have worked alongside her on Truck, with Kidd always managing to bring out the best in her team – even when they do everything they can to try to push her away. Kidd has a way of bringing out the best in those around her and pushing them into becoming the best version of themselves they can be, leading to some amazing transformational arcs on the show.
It’s honestly impossible to think of Chicago Fire without Kidd, and we’re so grateful that the Chicago Fire writers introduced Mayo to the cast all those years ago. It’s not often a character is able to come into an established show and emerge as one of the most beloved characters in the franchise, but that’s exactly what Mayo has managed to achieve in bringing Kidd to life.