Brandon Larracuente Shares How the ‘Chicago Fire’ Cast Welcomed Him Like Family

The firehouse family is growing. As “Chicago Fire” season 14 gets underway, Brandon Larracuente is joining the One Chicago universe as Sal Vásquez — and he’s already feeling right at home thanks to the cast’s signature warm welcome.

Brandon Larracuente Shares His First ‘Chicago Fire’ Cast Dinner

The long-running NBC drama returned on October 1, and tonight’s episode will continue the action with the second installment of season 14. Before stepping onto set for the first time, Larracuente shared with NBC Insider that one of his favorite memories so far was being invited to a cast dinner hosted by David Eigenberg, who plays Chris Herrmann.

“Everyone’s been great,” he said. “It’s been nice, so before we shot anything, David and his wife set up a big cast dinner. What was really nice was it wasn’t just the current cast, there were some cast members from previous seasons and stuff. So it was nice to see how well these people got along.”

Larracuente added that he brought his wife, Jazmin Garcia, to the dinner, and the warm atmosphere helped him feel immediately included. “I invited my wife, they all met with her, and it just feels like a family,” he shared. “And I was able to bond with them before stepping on set at all.”

The actor has previously appeared in “13 Reasons Why,” “The Good Doctor,” and Dick Wolf’s “On Call.” His casting in “Chicago Fire” follows the departures of Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett, making him one of the fresh faces in Firehouse 51 this season.

The ‘Chicago Fire’ Cast Keeps It Light — And Tight

Larracuente also praised the cast’s on-set vibe, crediting their chemistry for making his transition easier. “It’s a good time on set. I mean, it definitely feels like a family, and it’s always tough when you’re joining a show that has built a core,” he said. “The core is now going on for 13 years, but they keep it light on set. But at the same time, they respect the work. And when it comes time to work, they show up prepared and whatnot. So I couldn’t ask for anything else. But it’s just a good time, I mean every single day.”

“I think keeping it a bit light on set transmits to the work,” he continued. “When you like the people you’re working with, it makes your job easier. They’ve all done their part equally in helping me adjust to the new experience of the show.”

Season 14 comes after a summer of cast negotiations that saw Taylor Kinney, Miranda Rae Mayo, and Dermot Mulroney all sign new deals to stay on “Chicago Fire.” Meanwhile, S. Epatha Merkerson and Oliver Platt remain key figures on “Chicago Med,” and Jason Beghe continues to lead “Chicago P.D.”

All three One Chicago series air Wednesdays on NBC and stream on Peacock

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