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'Chicago Fire' Season 8 Episode 7 sees Kelly Severide transfer to the OFI, but what will his absence mean for Firehouse 51?

Severide is a crucial part of Firehouse 51 and his absence is sure to affect his colleagues.

Lieutenant Kelly Severide has always had a knack for fire investigations and figuring out who the real culprit is, as we have already seen multiple times over the past few seasons. He probably gets that from his father who was also a firefighter and was working with the Office of Fire Investigations (OFI).

This week, Commissioner Grissom (Gary Cole) returns and himself sanctions Severide's transfer to the OFI. Severide is not happy at first and is angry that the commissioner is playing with his career. Chief Boden advises Severide to talk to Grissom personally. When Severide and Grissom do talk, the latter tells him that the OFI needs Severide and though Severide is reluctant at first, he agrees to transfer to the OFI, at least till he helps the department clear its backlog of cases.

But, Severide does ask for something in return. In the same episode, Hermann was charged with Conduct Unbecoming charges after a police officer -- who blocked the firetruck's access to the fire hydrant with his car and refused to move it during a hostage situation -- files a complaint against him. 

Hermann tried to get the charges dropped and even appealed to the police officer to have a drink with him at Molly's. Even Detective Kim Burgess from 'Chicago P.D.' could not help with this particular officer. Severide got Grissom to drop the charges against Hermann. Had the charges been pursued, Hermann could have lost charge of the engine. He doesn't know yet that it's Severide that helped him, but that in itself shows why Severide moving to the OFI will be such a big loss for Firehouse 51.

Severide has not just been a leader at the firehouse, but he has also looked out for the firefighters and the paramedics at 51. His transfer is sure to come with some separation pangs, especially for firefighter Stella Kidd, his girlfriend.

Sure, Severide might be back to 51 in a few episodes, but we would like to see how the dynamics at the firehouse shift in his absence. It could also mean that Stella might be up to become a lieutenant -- something we will just have to wait and see.

'Chicago Fire' airs on NBC on Wednesday nights.