Boden set out to solve a mind-boggling mystery in his triumphant Chicago Fire return.
Chicago Fire icon Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) has returned, but he's not kicking back and relaxing with his Firehouse 51 friends — he has a case to solve.
Chi-Hards have been counting down the days to Boden's triumphant return since he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in Season 12. However, it was Boden's new position that put him at odds with Firehouse 51 in Season 13, Episode 18 ("Post Mortem") after a devastating call ended with every firefighter's worst fear: one of their own landing in the hospital. Boden meant business as he set out to figure out what led to all hell breaking loose, leading to some intense interrogations between 51's former chief and the colleagues who miss him most.
Here's everything that happened after Boden returned to Firehouse 51 on Chicago Fire's April 16 episode:
A tragedy brought a no-nonsense Boden back to Chicago Fire
Now at the helm of the CFD, Boden soon caught wind of an ill-fated call led by Firehouse 51. Following a roof collapse in a burning house, a firefighter was left behind. Despite 51 going back in to get their team member, he was fighting for his life in the hospital. Who was knocking at death's door, you may wonder? Chicago Fire cleverly hid this detail from viewers as Boden visited Firehouse 51 to get to the bottom of it.
After a formal investigation was launched, D.C. Boden was responsible for deciphering where it all went wrong. Chief Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), along with his Lieutenants, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), and Chris Herrmann (David Eigenberg), were all at risk of termination as the commanding officers on the call. And Boden wasn't playing favorites — he knew he couldn't let his history with Firehouse 51 cloud his judgment. Someone's job was on the line, and Boden was forced to play detective, judge, and executioner.
Boden investigated Firehouse 51's most seasoned leaders
As the investigation continued, it emerged that the call went haywire after Herrmann, Severide, and Kidd lost track of their units. Herrmann insisted they counted that every person inside the building had exited, unsure how anyone was missed. Meanwhile, Kidd vouched that Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) was fit for duty following his furlough and wasn't liable. Pascal echoed that claim, although the tension between Pascal and Boden was evident. Did Pascal make the wrong move in evacuating the building when he did? Did Herrmann miscount and make a mistake? Did Severide or Kidd lose track of one of his squad members?
The common denominator amongst every Lieutenant's report was that the scene was absolute chaos. Engine didn't have access to enough water in the neighborhood, air tanks were breaking, interference on the radio prevented communication, and there was no traffic or crowd control. That's not to mention the growing inferno and family inside. While Boden butted heads with Pascal at numerous points during the post-mortem report, he slowly began to see a clear picture amongst the various testimonies.
Boden finally realized how the nightmare broke loose. Carver's return to his post and Jack Damon's transfer to Engine led the commanding officers to lose track of responders during the evacuation, leaving Damon behind amid the mayhem. (So, yes, Damon is the injured firefighter.) The group was shocked and ashamed by Boden's reveal, still unsure who would pay the price for the grave error.
Boden's investigation led to a shocking realization
Just as Boden left to present his findings to the CFD committee, 51 learned that Damon had woken up at the hospital. At last, good news! Pascal joined Boden at the committee meeting to see the case through. After Boden presented his report to the committee, they demanded he provide clear-cut answers on how the fire went wrong and who was responsible.
"I believe I can. This call was unique in the worst possible way," Boden began. "It was a kind of call where everything that could go wrong did. And as a result, a firefighter was left behind, which is tragic. But the only blame to be laid here is on the fog of the fire ground."
The committee still didn't understand.
"Look at the reports; they tell a story," Boden continued, highlighting the crowd control issues and faulty equipment thar Firehouse 51 navigated during the call, not to mention the low visibility and collapsing building. "Despite all that, Firehouse 51 saved four lives."
Boden argued that 51's success was only possible thanks to everyone operating at the highest caliber. "Tough decisions had to be made under immense pressure and on the fly. I have reviewed the incident, and I can say with absolute certainty I wouldn't have done it any differently," Boden concluded. "Chief Pascal and his officers made all the right calls."
Boden ultimately determined that the incident wasn't anyone's fault but rather a quagmire of complications that led to Damon being left behind. Boden was keen to update the officers that the committee cleared Firehouse 51 of wrongdoing, which was a grand relief. It made for a much merrier reunion between Boden and his Firehouse 51 family as he joined everyone at the hospital.
Pascal thanked Boden for his help while Boden shrugged it off. Boden had just told the truth, and speaking to Firehouse 51's infallible bravery comes naturally to him.
"Keep up the good work," Boden commended Pascal, going in for a big handshake before teasing: "I'll make sure that you do."
Watch Chicago Fire on Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
