Why did Mills leave Chicago Fire? Reasons behind exit explored 

Peter Mills exit was on Chicago Fire Season 3 (Image via YT/One Chicago)
Peter Mills exit was on Chicago Fire Season 3 (Image via YT/One Chicago)

At the end of Season 3 of NBC’s Chicago Fire, firefighter Peter Mills, played by Charlie Barnett, left the show, leaving many fans feeling sad and confused. Mills left Firehouse 51 for North Carolina, to help his family with their restaurant. This was a surprise twist in the plot of Chicago Fire.

Why did this happen? In interviews with the show’s creators and Barnett, it was explained that Mills’ exit wasn’t because of the actor’s performance. Instead, it was a planned decision to change the show’s direction. Matt Olmstead, a former executive producer of the show, said the goal was to introduce new storylines while keeping Mills’ character as a fan favorite.

Olmstead said:

“It was solely based on bringing in new people for new stories.”

Charlie Barnett, later talking about leaving Chicago Fire, said it ended up a good thing for him. He also mentioned how much he learned while working on the series.

We talke a look at why Barnett's Mills left the show and what it means for Chicago Fire.


Chicago Fire's creative decision to write off Peter Mills

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Peter Mills leaving the show wasn’t because of any hidden fights or drama behind the scenes. It was a planned decision for the story, according to the creators.

Matt Olmstead, who played a big role in creating Chicago Fire, explained this choice in a 2015 interview with TV Guide.

He said:

“The hardest part of this job is when you feel it’s the right time to make cast changes. Otherwise, it turns into a clown car.”

For Olmstead, Mills' story had reached a natural stopping point. He had joined Firehouse 51 to honor his late father’s memory and had shown he was a skilled firefighter and paramedic. Leaving to help his family with their restaurant business felt true to his character, and the decision gave his story a meaningful ending.

The show’s creators decided to let Mills leave on a good note instead of killing him off, which often happens to characters leaving TV shows.

Olmstead explained that this choice respected Mills’ character and left the door open for him to possibly return in the future.

“He fulfilled his father’s legacy to the extent he wanted to.”

Charlie Barnett’s reaction to leaving Chicago Fire

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Charlie Barnett was shocked when he found out his character would be removed from Chicago Fire. In an interview with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, he said it was just a regular day of filming that suddenly became very emotional.

He explained that the decision wasn’t personal, and the producers made it clear that his acting skills and professionalism had nothing to do with it. At first, he felt sad, but over time, he started to see the experience in a more positive way.

In a 2022 interview with Digital Spy, he said:

“It broke me for quite a long time.”

He added:

“It was a blessing in disguise.”

The actor thanked the show for helping him improve both in his job and as a person, saying:

“I learned so much about myself as an actor and about the business.”

After Chicago Fire, Barnett has done well. He has played important roles in Russian Doll and The Acolyte, showing he can do well in different types of shows. Barnett also stays close with his old co-stars, reiterating the friendships he made while working on the show.


Fans’ reactions and Peter Mills’ legacy on Chicago Fire

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Peter Mills is still loved by Chicago Fire fans, even though he left the show years ago. On websites such as Reddit, people still talk about how much they like his character and wonder if he might come back.

One fan said:

“I miss everyone from Season 1-2. Best cast of the show.”

Another fan added,

“I feel like it would have been a great opportunity for him to make a return when Kidd needed to fill her spot on the truck.”

Mills brought a lot of warmth to Firehouse 51, and his connection with other characters, especially his partner Sylvie Brett (played by Kara Killmer), made a big impact. When Mills left, Brett’s emotional reaction showed just how important he was to the Chicago Fire world.

Even though he’s no longer on the show, Peter Mills’ story still matters. His exit was written to show how Mills grew as a person and how he chose to focus on his family, making it one of the most thoughtful and well-done departures in TV drama.


Fans can watch Peter Mills' story and all the memorable moments from Chicago Fire again by streaming the show on Peacock.

New episodes come out every Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.

Next: What happened to Rebecca Jones?

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Edited by Vinayak Chakravorty