Chicago Fire lost one of its own during Wednesday’s Season 8 premiere, when Brian “Otis” Zvonecek (longtime series regular Yuri Sardarov) died as a result of injuries sustained in the mattress factory fire. Lying on his death bed, with a crying Cruz at his side, Otis spoke his final words in Russian. It wouldn’t be until three months later that Cruz would learn what his friend had said to him: “Brother, I will be with you, always.”

Below, showrunner Derek Haas talks about the decision to say goodbye to Otis and the lasting impact his death will have on the firehouse.

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