Chicago Fire preview: What to expect in season 12, episode 4

There’s no break in the work of a firefighter. There is always something going on, and that’s certainly the case in Chicago Fire.

The latest episode also makes it clear that not all fires are either accidental or started by adults. Sometimes, children get up to things, and it’s up to the adults to figure out what’s really going on. That’s going to be the case for Kidd in the new episode based on both the promo and the synopsis.

While all that goes on, we’ll get a character from the past. Boden’s stepson is coming to Boden for help, while Brett brings Julia into the firehouse for the day.

Chicago Fire 12x04 promo

The promo gives us a look at a singular storyline for the episode. We see Firehouse 51 called out to a housefire, but that’s not the first one that’s happened. Gibson, who Mouch decided was someone worthy of a place at Firehouse 51, checks online to find out there have been other small fires in the same area.

Everything happens around the house. That suggests that someone in the house sets the fires, and Kidd wants to know what the little girl hiding in the cabinet knows. What is she trying to tell people by getting the first responders in.

This little girl doesn’t come across as malicious but trying to get attention for the right reason in the wrong way.

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Chicago Fire 1204 synopsis

The synopsis makes it look like the little girl is certainly up to something. It’s up to Kidd to use some empathy to get to the bottom of it.

The synopsis also tells us that James, Boden’s stepson, is coming to the firehouse. He needs Boden’s help with his mother. We’ve met James in the first and fifth seasons of the series. Fans will remember that Boden was married to his mom, Shauna, but they split up.

Just because someone is no longer married to the parent doesn’t mean that their love for a child disappears. Boden is going to listen to James, but will he be able to help Shauna in the way James wants?

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As all that goes on, Julia visits the firehouse. I’ll be honest and say I forgot all about Brett adopting the baby in Chicago Fire season 11 until it was mentioned at the bar. It’ll be good to see how things are going for mom and baby and what Julia’s trip to Firehouse 51 is like.

"Julia spends a couple of days at 51; Boden's stepson, James, returns, desperate for Boden to help his mother; after a little girl starts a fire in her backyard, Kidd and her team decide to dig deeper."

Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.