Chicago Fire Marks 300 Episodes With Joe Cruz’s Farewell

The 300th episode of Chicago Fire, titled “Three Hundred,” brought Joe Cruz’s run at Firehouse 51 to a close. Joe Miñoso has played the firefighter since the series began in 2012, while Taylor Kinney has appeared in every episode as Kelly Severide. The milestone episode aired on NBC on November 4, at 9 p.m. ET.

Cruz is recovering from a spinal injury and has made progress in physical therapy. When he visits the firehouse, he stands from his wheelchair and tells his colleagues that he hopes to return to work after further treatment. But after his wife, Chloe, gives birth to twin girls, Cruz decides his family needs him elsewhere.

He tells Severide he will not return to the station. Cruz, Chloe and their children plan to move to Minneapolis, where Chloe’s mother can help care for the newborns and Cruz can join a recovery program. The episode closes with Cruz visiting the memorial to his late colleague Otis, then posing for a final photo with his Firehouse 51 team.

Kinney said filming the last scene between Severide and Cruz affected him deeply. The actors had spent years working long hours together, he said, and he described their farewell as an intimate moment that he would always remember.

Executive producer Peter Jankowski said Miñoso would remain part of the Wolf Entertainment family and was scheduled to direct his first television episode later in the year. Kinney said he had not imagined the series would last 15 seasons, and expressed gratitude for reaching its 300th episode.