One Chicago Podcast – Steve Chikerotis (Consulting Producer on Chicago Fire)

Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Brian Luetsch with guest Steve “Chick” Chikerotis

Episode Overview

This episode of the One Chicago Podcast offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes conversation between host Brian Luetsch (former Chicago cop, now a producer) and Steve Chikerotis (“Chick”), consulting producer and backbone of Chicago Fire from its conception. The discussion tracks Chick’s remarkable transition from decorated Chicago firefighter to TV producer, blending real-life experiences with storytelling, and delves into the authentic heart and struggles of first responders as portrayed on the One Chicago shows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: Where Stories Begin

• The episode is recorded at Turtles, a neighborhood bar in Bridgeport, Chicago—a frequent filming spot and post-shoot hangout for the cast and crew.
• Brian explains how bar stories and real-life experiences with Chicago police and firefighters often become the inspiration for show episodes.
• Chick applauds the “realness” of the location and its significance to both the show and the community.

Chick's Hollywood Origin Story

[06:47-09:13]

• Chick began as a technical advisor on 1991’s Backdraft and kept pushing for an authentic firefighter TV show.
• The breakthrough came from a chance reconnection with John Roman, a producer Chick had last worked with on Backdraft, leading to meetings with Chicago Fire creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt.
• Chick recalls, “I’m literally pitching ideas on bar napkins ... we pretty much had a show.” (Steve Chikarotis, 08:14)
• Chick’s real-life fire station and crew essentially became the show’s template.

Real-life Partnerships: Cops and Firefighters

[09:13-14:02]

• Brian and Chick reminisce about their time working together on movie details and the camaraderie/rivalry between Chicago policemen and firemen.
• They highlight how writing for TV lets them honor the friends and colleagues lost in the line of duty, as well as those living with trauma.
• “We have stories to tell for the cops and the firefighters that can’t tell them because they died in the line of duty, including your father.” (Chick, 13:23)
• Storytelling becomes both a coping mechanism and a form of therapy, letting them process and share difficult experiences.

Vulnerability Behind the Uniforms

[14:02-16:11]

• Both men candidly discuss PTSD, trauma, and coping with nightmares.
• Brian: “I have a whole library of nightmares… I find myself now, like you said, when you tell the stories, I’m letting go of something that I held onto so much.” (Brian, 14:11)
• Acting and working with writers/actors taught Brian about empathy and vulnerability, breaking down the “armor” and “heavy coat” first responders wear.

Why Real Stories Matter

[16:11-17:00]

• Chick underscores the emotional toll: “We ride this roller coaster of a life of emotions… isn’t that great education for civilians? But also, isn’t it great entertainment when you can make your viewers laugh and cry every episode?”
• The mission: To make stories as real and relatable as possible while serving as a tribute to those who’ve made sacrifices.

Inside Squad Life & The Path to First Responder Careers

[17:00-21:11]

• Chick explains “Squad One and Squad Two” as elite special operations units, showing the breadth, complexity, and unique skills these firefighters bring.
• Both share their unconventional paths: Chick, inspired after witnessing firemen responding to an explosion, worked his way into the department after taking the exam with 30,000 others.
• “I want that job… because these guys are running into what I just ran away from.” (Chick, 18:34)

Brian’s Path into Policing

[21:11-25:02]

• Brian details his storied family legacy, the influence of his cop father, his initial failures to pass the police psych test, and ultimately his time as a Cook County sheriff.
• Moving story of wearing his uniform to see his dying father: “When my dad died, he got to see me in a uniform... he knew I was going into law enforcement.” (Brian, 24:40)

Turning Real Experiences into TV

Story Conversion Example: Honoring Real Heroes

[28:40-32:10]

• Chick’s telling of the Captain Bill Burns incident—a real-life rescue where a captain withstood extreme heat to save his crew—became a pivotal episode on the show.
• “His helmet melted, a hole the size of a softball, his head is burning… waits til both his men are on the ladder before jumping.” (Chick, 29:36)
• The emotional payoff: Chick invited the real Bill Burns to the set to witness the reenactment, moving him to tears.

Ripped-from-the-Headlines, Realer than Fiction

[32:10-36:11]

• Brian recounts a real case of a child abduction—its intensity and emotional fallout—that was adapted (with raw honesty) into a Chicago P.D. episode.
• “Every time he worked with me, he said I was a shit magnet… my partner jumps out, goes to the front… gets run over” (Brian, 33:12, 34:06)
• “The curb was my park bench… firemen were pulling up… they knew, leave that kid alone.” (Brian, 36:11)
• Both note that the most unbelievable TV plots are usually toned down from even crazier reality.

On Sharing and Remembering

[37:12-38:04]

• Chick reflects on the importance of storytelling: “Some people can suppress it and have a hard time recalling it… I think it’s important to share. There’s no better avenue than our television shows for sharing these stories.”
• For first responders, these wild, traumatic incidents are often just “a Tuesday.”

Most Bizarre Incidents: Truth Stranger Than Fiction

[38:11-43:10]

• Chick shares the story of a dramatic family rescue: a father stacking his family like cordwood to shield them from a fire, sacrificing his life. This was adapted into a show plot—where, if anything, they had to “dumb it down” to be believable for TV.
• “His skin was melting off him and he stretched out covering his family… the mother and the children all made it. I wish I could tell these kids what a hero their father was.” (Chick, 39:11)
• Years later, he meets the family—in court, because they sued the fire department—giving him the chance to defend firefighters’ efforts.

The Real Impact on First Responders

[43:10-44:19]

• Chick addresses recent negative publicity for police and stresses the importance of accurately honoring cops and firefighters, giving civilians a rare view into their world.
• “We’re not just a reflection of CPD and CFD, it’s wherever you are… you get to show, you get to look into the heart and mind of firefighters and police officers.” (Chick, 43:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I’m literally pitching ideas on bar napkins… we pretty much had a show.”
  — Steve Chikarotis (08:14)

• “We have stories to tell for the cops and the firefighters that can’t tell them because they died in the line of duty, including your father.”
  — Steve Chikarotis (13:23)

• “I have a whole library of nightmares… but when you tell the stories, I’m letting go of something.”
  — Brian ‘Luch’ Delucia (14:11)

• “We ride this roller coaster of a life of emotions… isn’t that great education for civilians? But also, isn’t it great entertainment when you can make your viewers laugh and cry every episode?”
  — Steve Chikarotis (16:11)

• “I want that job… because these guys are running into what I just ran away from.”
  — Steve Chikarotis (18:34)

• “His helmet melted, a hole the size of a softball, his head is burning… waits til both his men are on the ladder before jumping.”
  — Steve Chikarotis (29:36)

• “The curb was my park bench… they knew, leave that kid alone. He’s on the curb.”
  — Brian ‘Luch’ Delucia (36:11)

• “Most of the crazy stuff you see on television had to be dumbed down from what really happened.”
  — Steve Chikarotis (42:03)

• “You get to look into the heart and mind of firefighters… and police officers. And I think that has value no matter what department it is.”
  — Steve Chikarotis (43:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 06:47 — Chick explains the initial spark for Chicago Fire
• 09:13 — Fire & police camaraderie, war stories, busting chops
• 14:02 — PTSD and storytelling as therapy for first responders
• 17:00 — Explaining Squad One & Two, elite rescue teams
• 18:34 — Chick’s origin: from roofing to firefighter
• 21:15 — Brian’s journey: family legacy, failures, Cook County sheriff
• 28:40 — Real-life rescue story becomes a show episode
• 32:10 — Brian’s abduction case: translating raw events into TV
• 38:11 — Chick recounts the family rescue/fire, how real stories get “toned down” for television
• 43:10 — What the show means to real cops and firefighters

Conclusion

This episode offers a heartfelt, unvarnished look at the emotional realities and profound camaraderie between Chicago’s first responders, exploring how real-life events are woven into the One Chicago franchises. Chikarotis and Luetsch emphasize authenticity, honor, and empathy, showing that the best stories on TV come from the hearts—and sometimes scars—of those who’ve served.

For fans and new listeners alike, this episode is a riveting ride through the origins, stories, and soul of Chicago Fire and the people who inspired it.