It’s the kind of news Chicago Fire fans hoped they’d never hear — and one that Miranda Rae Mayo admits she wasn’t ready to share. After nearly a decade as the fiery and fearless Stella Kidd, Mayo has officially confirmed that she’s leaving Chicago Fire.

“We were shooting this really heavy moment, and suddenly it hit me — this might be the last time I walk through that firehouse as Stella Kidd. It came over me like a wave I wasn’t ready for.”

 

 

A Tearful Goodbye Behind the Scenes

 

According to insiders, Mayo’s final days on set were “heart-wrenching and beautiful.”

Her co-star Taylor Kinney — who recently returned after his own break from the series — gave a touching farewell speech, thanking Mayo for “bringing soul and fire to Firehouse 51.”

 

 

“These people are my family,” Mayo said in response. “You don’t lose family when you leave — you just love them from a little farther away.”

 

Legacy of Laughter, Love, and Leadership

 

 

Mayo credits her fellow castmates — including David Eigenberg, Christian Stolte, Kara Killmer, and Eamonn Walker — as her mentors and closest friends.

 

Asked what she’ll miss most, she didn’t hesitate: “The laughter. The chaos. Those long nights when we were all covered in soot, exhausted, but still joking around. That kind of chemistry — you can’t fake that.”

 

 

She also recalled her very first day on set: “I felt like the new kid in school,” she laughed. “But everyone made me feel like I’d always been there.”She Believed in Herself Enough”: ‘Chicago Fire’ Showrunner Explains Stella’s Pregnancy Twist

 

Stella’s Final Chapter — and What’s Next

 

While NBC and Wolf Entertainment haven’t yet released an official statement, insiders confirm that Season 14 will give Stella “a powerful, emotional conclusion that honors everything she’s meant to the series.”

 

“We want to give her the send-off she deserves,” a Chicago Fire producer said. “Miranda has poured her heart into this role — this isn’t just a goodbye, it’s a thank you.”

 

 

Mayo herself teased that Stella’s story might not be over forever. “I’ll never say never,” she smiled. “Stella’s journey lives in me. Who knows what the future holds? Right now, I’m just taking time to breathe.”

 

“Sometimes Stepping Away Isn’t Quitting — It’s Protecting Your Peace”

 

After nearly ten years of grueling production schedules and emotional storylines, Mayo says she’s learned the importance of rest and renewal.

 

“There’s a real danger in never slowing down,” she said. “Sometimes stepping away isn’t quitting — it’s protecting your peace.”

 

Still, she’s not closing the door on acting — or even on One Chicago. “Let’s just say,” she added with a knowing grin, “the fire never really goes out.”