Who is the new chief on Chicago Fire season 13? Everything you need to know

Chicago Fire season 13 premiered on NBC and Peacock on September 25-26, 2024. The series has aired on NBC since 2010 and is the first instalment in Law and Order creator Dick Wolf's long-running One Chicago franchise, which also includes shows such as Chicago PD and Chicago Med.

The series has seen considerable cast changes and plot twists in the lead-up to Chicago Fire season 13. One major addition to Chicago Fire season 13 is the incoming Battalion Chief Dom Pascal, played by Dermot Mulroney.

Dom Pascal is introduced as the replacement for outgoing Battalion Chief Wallace Boden, who was promoted to the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department in the season 12 finale.

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Dom Pascal is the new Battalion Chief in Chicago Fire season 13

Dom Pascal is introduced as the new Battalion Chief of Firehouse 51 in the Chicago Fire season 13 premiere. With Wallace Boden moving on to become deputy commissioner, it fell on Dom to reassure the current battalion of his leadership capabilities.

When introducing himself to the team, Dom had this to say:

"I have the utmost respect for D.C. Wallace Boden, and it's truly an honor to be here, at his former seat. But I'm not Chief Boden. I'm not trying to be. I have my own leadership style."

Firehouse 51 staff was nervous about Dom's arrival as Wallace Boden's replacement until they saw him in action during a fire incident that occurred at a smoke shop.

Dom displayed courageous selflessness as he rushed into the fray without a shield, prioritizing the rescue of civilians over his own safety. Remarking on how Dom carried himself, Novak speculated that he may lack the fear gene.

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Dom's approach is more by-the-book

Compared to his predecessor Borden, Dom is more by-the-book in his leadership of Firehouse 51. For instance, he instituted a ban on cell phones during team lunches, a fact that miffed long-time stalwarts of the Chicago Fire Department.

When Joe Cruz complained that this rule was unnecessary since all team members were familiar with each other, Dom responded by saying:

"That's where the trouble starts. You stop asking questions, finding out new things. If your life depends on knowing the firefighter on your left and right on every call and what their next move is going to be, there's no such thing as too familiar.

Other stringent rules Dom instituted included mandatory debriefings after every call Firehouse 51 attended to, as he explained to Stella Kidd and Kelly Silveride. He also paid closer attention to a rule Wallace Boden had largely overlooked, which prohibited immediate family members from working on the same shifts.

Because Stella and Billy were married, they'd already violated this rule, which Wallace Boden let slide. Dom made note of this, claiming that in light of the couple's strong track record, he too would be hands-off, but that might change if circumstances demanded it.

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Dom Pascal has some troubled history in Miami

On his first day at Firehouse 51, Dom's former CFD colleague Chi-Hards visited him. During their conversation, Chi-Hards referred to something that happened in Miami.

He asked Dom, "Listen, I don't want to overstep, but we were close back in the day. I heard about what happened in Miami. You OK?" Dom's demeanor changed at this question and he insisted he is fine. He then quickly ended the conversation by citung that he had to get back to work.

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Dom Pascal's story will continue to be explored in Chicago Fire season 13, which can be viewed on NBC and Peacock.