Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Chicago Fire season 13, episode 6, "Birds Of Prey."Chicago Fire season 13, episode 6, "Birds Of Prey," emphasized Firehouse 51's ability to act quickly, but not without highlighting one of their biggest problems. The episode started with the firehouse being alerted about a fire at an empty storage facility. The team sent Truck 81 to put it out, and with that decision, "Birds Of Prey" also showed the growing tension between Carver and the rest of his squad.
The episode also revealed that Severide's investigation of the storage facility and the fire led to the discovery of a box of 3D-printed guns and a deep connection to an ongoing police investigation. The revelation led to an unexpected collaboration between Severide and Chief Dom Pascal. Meanwhile, one of Chicago Fire's best characters, Mouch, dealt with a particularly sensitive dove at the firehouse. While Chicago Fire season 12, episode 6 was solid in terms of character and exposition, it also highlighted Firehouse 51's biggest problem by revealing what was missing from the episode.
Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 5 Notably Misses Herrmann & Kylie
The Engine 51 Squad Is Noticeably Absent
Chicago Fire's Kylie Estevez and Christopher Herrman were noticeably absent from season 13's episode 6. While Herrmann has been a major character since season 1, Kylie only recently joined the squad, after having appeared sporadically on Chicago Fire since season 8. Herrmann and Kylie are both part of Engine 51, which is led by Lieutenant Herrmann. Kylie had previously been a part of another firehouse, but Kidd recruited her to join Firehouse 51 as a replacement for Damon, who left early in season 13.
As a member of the same firehouse, calls for 51 typically include all of its teams — Engine 51, Truck 81, and Squad 3. So it's curious why Engine 51 wasn't part of the fire response. Chicago Fire season 13, episode 5, unfortunately, didn't provide any explanation for this. That said, Engine 51 might not have been the focus of the call because it was dealing with a different emergency off-screen.
Herrmann & Kylie's Absence Highlights How Underutilized Engine 51 Is In Chicago Fire
As The Main Firefighting Vehicle, Engine 51 Is Used Less Than Expected
As the major firefighting vehicle of Firehouse 51, it is surprising just how underused Engine 51 is in Chicago Fire. Its members are overlooked compared to the other teams, including Squad 3 featuring Severide's team, and Truck 81 featuring Kidd's team. Throughout the show's 12 seasons, Engine 51 has the least amount of character exposure and development. Granted that Hermann's personal storyline has been focused on, particularly in the last couple of years with Cindy's and his health scares, but those stories still weren't enough in comparison to other characters' arcs in the show. Hopefully, this changes moving forward.
