Did Chicago Fire Copy 1991’s Iconic Robert De Niro Firefighter Movie?

Summary:

• 1991’s Backdraft followed two firefighter brothers investigating a series of arsons in Chicago.
• Chicago Fire has numerous references to Backdraft in its firehouse, battalion, and truck numbers.
• Even some characters and storylines are similar between the One Chicago show and the movie.

Chicago Fire aired its premiere episode in 2012 and saw immediate success — but apart from avid firefighter fans, few viewers know just how much inspiration it drew from a classic 1991 movie with Robert De Niro, Kurt Russell, and William Baldwin. The parallels and similarities are plentiful, but what even is the movie we’re talking about?

Backdraft Is a Classic Firefighting Action Drama

Ron Howard’s Backdraft follows two brothers: both of them carry on their family’s noble tradition of being Chicago firefighters, but they’re feuding. Their father’s death on a call is the reason for their seemingly never-ending rivalry; but when a chain of mysterious arsons hits the Windy City, they set aside their differences to find the culprit and save innocent lives together.

Backdraft is a classic firefighting movie praised for its exceptional special effects and action sequences, and it hasn’t lost its positions since its 1991 release. To this day, Robert De Niro’s only firefighting outing boasts a great 75% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes and a slightly lower 73% Critic Score to compliment it.

Admittedly, it’s solid enough to inspire other firefighting movies… And TV shows.

Chicago Fire Shares Similarities with Backdraft

There’s quite some proof that Chicago Fire at the very least drew inspiration from Backdraft, especially if you pay attention to the number of Easter eggs. Take a look.

Chief Boden’s Battalion 25 was present in Backdraft multiple times. Before temporarily joining Firehouse 51, Patrick Pridgen was a Firehouse 17 Chief, where Backdraft is set. Truck 51 is mentioned several times in Backdraft, and that’s obviously the number of the One Chicago’s central firehouse. Backdraft’s “Fightin’ 17” saw its second life in Chicago Fire’s “Fightin’ 51.” And there’s much more!

In Backdraft, Robert De Niro plays the arson investigator Donald Rimgale; and Brian, one of the two brothers, partially works for the OFI. Chicago Fire’s Kelly Severide works with the OFI and aspires to become an arson investigator. Both Chicago Fire and Backdraft have a firefighter arsonist, too: Hadley and Adcox, respectively.

Source: Reddit