Is ‘Chicago Fire’ Filmed in a Real Firehouse?
Chicago Fire is the first series in NBC’s Chicago franchise that follows the lives of first responders in the Windy City. Since its premiere in 2012, Chicago Fire has introduced viewers to a fictional group of firefighters and paramedics at Firehouse 51, as they help their community while going through some struggles in their personal lives.
Although some scenes in Chicago Fire are not quite representative of actual events, overall the series definitely feels very realistic, especially the famous Firehouse 51 where the characters are often seen at. This begs the question: are the fire station and other filming locations on Chicago Fire real?
Where is ‘Chicago Fire’ filmed?
Chicago Fire is actually filmed right in Chicago and the firehouse used to create the show is an actual place. It is the Engine 18 station and its address is 1360 S. Blue Island Avenue. The place is used for both the show and as a real fire station with every day firefighters working there. However, it is also important to note that only the exterior scenes are filmed here, as many of interior scenes are filmed elsewhere at a studio.
Nevertheless, fans of the series who are planning on visiting Chicago should put Engine 18 down on their itinerary because it’s very much possible to stop by and take a look around. In fact, according to Deputy District Chief Steve Chikerotis, who also acts a consultant on the set of the show, more and more people have visited Engine 18 because of Chicago Fire.
“We have people come from all over the world,” he said. “We might have 200-300 people that are here … I’ve seen a big increase in the number of tourists coming around.”
And if you happen to come by at a good time, you could even catch an episode of Chicago Fire being filmed right at the station.
“Though there is no way to tour any of Chicago Fire‘s sets while the show is filming, fans are allowed to watch from afar and may even be able to meet some of the show’s stars between takes,” website On Location Vacations shared.
Other shows in the ‘Chicago’ franchise are also filmed in Chicago
Chicago Fire is not the only series in NBC’s Chicago franchise with set locations that fans can visit. All of the other current shows — Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med — are filmed in Chicago and often at local places.
The exterior of the famous police station seen in Chicago P.D. is the 7th District Police Station (also called the Maxwell Street Police Station) at 943 West Maxwell Street. Having been built in 1888, the station has a unique history that can still be felt in its old-fashioned architecture. Additionally, it no longer hosts members of the Chicago Police Department but now belongs to the police department of the University of Illinois Chicago.
Meanwhile, the hospital that many scenes of Chicago Med are filmed in is Rush University Medical Center, which is associated with Rush University and is reportedly one of the top hospitals in the country. Its address is 1653 W. Congress Parkway.
A unifying location for all three shows, however, is Molly’s, a pub frequented by the characters of the Chicago franchise. It used to be filmed at Lottie’s Pub at 1924 W. Cortland Street for the first season of Chicago Fire and business had to be shut down on many days. It was such a huge inconvenience, though, that NBC eventually stopped filming at Lottie’s Pub and simply recreated a pub in a studio. Nevertheless, fans can still visit Lottie’s Pub and get a taste of their Chicago Fire Burger, Chicago Med Turkey Burger, and Chicago PD Burger.
