The alarms are still ringing, the trucks are still rolling, and if Joe Minoso has anything to say about it, Firehouse 51 is nowhere near its final call.

As Chicago Fire powers through its 14th season, conversations behind closed doors are intensifying about the show’s future. NBC hasn’t officially stamped

the paperwork yet, but momentum is building toward a season 15 renewal — and longtime cast member Joe Minoso is already looking far beyond that milestone.

For the actor who has embodied firefighter Joe Cruz since the very beginning, the blaze that ignited in 2012 is still burning strong.

And Minoso? He wants to keep running into it.

A Legacy Still in Motion

In an era where television series flicker out after only a few years, Chicago Fire has proven itself a rare survivor. Born from Dick Wolf’s powerhouse vision, the drama launched what would become the expansive One Chicago universe, a franchise that has dominated NBC’s schedule and captured millions of loyal viewers.

Cast members have rotated in and out. Beloved characters have said emotional goodbyes. Tragedy, triumph, and romance have swept through the firehouse doors in wave after wave.

Yet through it all, the heart of the series has remained remarkably steady.

For Minoso, that stability is both humbling and inspiring. Having been part of the original ensemble, he has watched the show evolve from a promising procedural into one of network television’s most dependable juggernauts.

And he’s not ready to walk away.

Thinking Bigger Than Season 15

While fans anxiously await official word from NBC, Minoso is dreaming in much larger numbers. Season 15, he suggests, would be a victory lap — but hardly the finish line.

He has openly shared that he would love to see Chicago Fire march toward a towering achievement few dramas ever reach: season 20.

It’s a goal that might sound outrageous for most productions. But for a series cut from the same cloth as Law & Order and Grey’s Anatomy — fellow endurance champions still thriving after decades — the idea suddenly feels possible.

Minoso believes the secret lies in the show’s foundation. The writers have built a world flexible enough to regenerate itself again and again. Emergencies change. Relationships shift. New recruits arrive. Veterans face new personal battles.

The fire never goes out because life keeps throwing sparks.

Commitment to Cruz — and to 51

One of the most reassuring parts of Minoso’s vision for the future is his own place in it. Despite the many exits that have reshaped Firehouse 51 over the years, he has no interest in hanging up Cruz’s helmet.

In fact, he has hinted that part of Cruz’s emotional power comes from staying exactly where he is — shoulder to shoulder with his family. Promotions and new titles might sound glamorous, but they can pull characters away from the very dynamics that make audiences feel at home.

For Minoso, remaining embedded within the fabric of 51 preserves the magic.

And there is still so much left to explore. Cruz has matured from an eager firefighter into a husband, a father, and a seasoned member of the team. Yet the actor believes there are untouched layers of vulnerability, courage, and conflict waiting to rise to the surface.

After more than a decade, the character is still revealing himself.

Why Fans Keep Coming Back

Ask Minoso what truly fuels Chicago Fire’s longevity, and his answer shifts quickly from scripts and ratings to something far more personal: the viewers.

Over the years, he has met countless families who make the show a weekly ritual, gathering together to watch the rescues unfold and the emotional consequences ripple through the characters’ lives. Hearing those stories, he says, is the real reward.

It’s a reminder that beyond the explosions and heartbreak, Chicago Fire has become part of people’s homes.

That connection is powerful. It’s also rare.

Television habits change. Streaming libraries expand. Attention spans fragment. But Firehouse 51 continues to command loyalty, in part because its heroes feel like relatives — flawed, brave, familiar.

The Comfort of Familiar Faces

Every long-running drama must balance reinvention with continuity. Too much change, and audiences drift away. Too little, and stories grow stale.

Minoso represents a bridge between past and future. His presence reassures viewers that, even as new firefighters join the ranks, the soul of the house remains intact.

Should NBC move forward with another renewal — as many insiders expect — fans can breathe easier knowing that some of the people who built this world are still deeply invested in protecting it.

A Future Worth Fighting For

Nothing is official yet. Contracts must be signed, budgets approved, schedules aligned. But the optimism surrounding season 15 feels stronger by the day.

And if Minoso’s enthusiasm is any indication, the cast is prepared to keep charging ahead, ready for the next rescue, the next heartbreak, the next unforgettable chapter.

For now, the message from inside Firehouse 51 is clear:

They’re not done.

Not by a long shot.

If the flames continue to rise, Joe Cruz will be right there in the smoke — determined, hopeful, and already imagining the sirens wailing well into season 20.