Why is Chicago Fire Season 9 not returning until January 2021?

New episodes of Chicago Fire Season 9 will air in January 2021

The end of Chicago Fire Season 9, Episode 2 brought some bad news. For some, it’s frustrating and annoying news. New episodes of the series won’t return until January 2021.

Now, this is usually when the One Chicago shows go on a break. They usually don’t return until January the following year, and while annoying, the fall finale dates are just what we’re used to.

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This year is very different. Usually, we get at least six episodes before the shows go on a break. This year, we’ve got two. That’s it. Two episodes and we’re now waiting until Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 for a new episode.

It’s all about safety for all those involved in Chicago Fire filming

Before you start complaining, let’s consider the reason behind the wait. This isn’t to annoy you. It’s all about keeping the cast and crew safe.

The pandemic is still ongoing. In fact, we’re well into the second wave with a rising number of cases on a daily basis. Illinois is one of the states that has shut down again due to the rising number of cases, so filming wouldn’t be happening anyway even if the cast wanted to.

Sure, other shows are still filming. That’s because the states they’re in are under different rules and protocols. It’s because most of them can film in a studio instead of going on location somewhere and being exposed more to the virus.

And let’s not forget that both Chicago Med and Chicago Fire had have to shut down due to positive cases since returning to filming. They’re not as far into filming as they would have probably wanted to be. While PD hadn’t been shut down, there’s no way the show would continue airing episodes when its counterparts haven’t. All three shows are in the same universe and air at the same time as each other.

The One Chicago crews are doing the best thing can in the current situation. While the shows are entertainment for us, we have to remember the real lives behind the scenes.

It was either we get two episodes and another break or we didn’t get the first two episodes until January. Which one would you have liked the most?

Chicago Fire Season 9 will return with all-new episodes on Jan. 6, 2021.