Wednesday’s Chicago Fire episode, A Chicago Welcome, opens with Firefighter Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) enjoying his morning coffee when he hears giggling emanating from roommate Paramedic Emily Foster’s (Annie Ilonzeh) bedroom. It doesn’t take us long to figure out why Foster is giggling. Judging by Foster’s facial expression, it was probably a Starr (Gabrielle Maalihan) performance.

Arriving at Firehouse 51, as Truck Company 81 Captain Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) asks how the weekend was for everyone, Cruz doesn’t have an issue with telling his colleagues Foster had a great time. As they approach the firehouse, with excitement taking hold, the Company 81 captain discovers he has a brand-new fire truck. Did you see the sparkle on that nice new red fire truck?

When Battalion 25 Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) is asked about the upgrade, he is every bit as much in the dark as everyone else. The only person that isn’t pleased with the new fire truck, especially considering he didn’t get one to replace Engine 51, is Engine Company 51 Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg). He immediately wants to know why it is he and his crew still must ride around in the old Engine 51 when Company 81 gets a new rig.

The answer to Herrmann’s question must wait because there is a house fire that needs their attention. It’s possibly my imagination, but when Company 81 leaves the firehouse, Engine 51 is following the new rig. When the trucks arrive at their destination, as Engine 51 turns on to another road, we see Company 81 had been following the older truck. I don’t get why they would need to switch places on route to the fire. I digress…

As Firehouse 51 takes care of business with the fire, it doesn’t escape Boden’s attention, there is an unwanted spectator watching the firefighters work. It’s ADC (Assistant Deputy Commissioner) Jerry Gorsch (Steven Boyer). There is no love lost between Firehouse 51 and Gorsch. I don’t recall ever seeing Gorsch go into a burning building.

Casey directs Firefighter Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) to get Tim Larson (David Selby) out of the house whilst he attends to his wife, Gail. Both Tim and Gail are rushed to the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center’s ED.

As Gorsch drives away from the scene, Casey mentions him to the chief. No one, especially the chief, Casey, and Lieutenant Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney), is happy to see him.

Back at 51, Herrmann is still annoyed by the fact Company 81 has a new rig. It doesn’t help that Firefighter Randy “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte) will not stop talking about the comfortable new truck.

“I learned last year … every now and then, the volcanos around here, they do a little rumbling,” Firefighter Candidate Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) tells Firefighter Candidate Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende). “… We stay far, far away and try not to get destroyed when the lava erupts.”

Cruz is searching the internet for wedding bands. He wants a classic jazz band. Unfortunately for him, not that there is anything wrong with it, his girlfriend wants a 1990s party band. It’s here that Foster tells Cruz that she’s planned a party at the apartment.

“I wanted to let you know I’m having a party tomorrow night,” Foster tells Cruz, “so, be ready for that.”

That’s a direct quote. Nowhere in what Foster tells Cruz is there any indication that the party is women-only.

Before the chief and Severide can make it as far as their respective offices, they find Gorsch waiting for them. When Boden asks Gorsch what he was doing at the fire scene, the ADC states that he wanted to see how they were enjoying the new truck. I guess that answers Herrmann’s question. The person that arranged the new truck was Gorsch. Considering how duplicitous Gorsch is, not that I am saying he necessarily wants something, it’s not like him to do anything for nothing.

Image Credit: IMDb.com

Gorsch references the Cancer Support Network’s Plan for Best Practices in CFD Firehouses. The ADC wants the department to purchase a second set of turn-out gear for every firefighter in the department. Whilst is cleaned after each fire, in theory, there will be a fresh set ready for use. This, as the chief correctly notes, is one of the recommendations that was put forward in the plan.

Gorsch needs Boden and Severide to speak to Commissioner Carl Grissom (Gary Cole) on his behalf because they have a better rapport. Do we trust Gorsch?

Casey and Paramedic in Charge Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) drop by the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center’s ED to check in on the Larsons. Tim is in intensive care and his wife, Gail, is undergoing surgery. Casey indicates there is no need to worry about Rusty the Cat because cats always find a way out of a burning building.