CFD Family

by EmiQueenieArrow

AU. Severide leaves for Spain with his girlfriend and things at 51 change. Casey's cousin Cyra Birch takes his place as squad lieutenant. Can they get over their problems and work together to keep 51 functioning?

15. End of Watch

While this is a fanfic for a pretty unrealistic TV show, and this story isn't super realistic, I felt like sharing something that was the sadder yet realistic side of firefighting. For those of you unfamiliar with how fire departments and other emergency services work, after a death or a retirement (at least where I live) of any emergency worker, whether it's a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or EMT/Medic, they do what is known as an end of watch transmission over the radio for everyone to hear. It celebrates and commemorates all of the work or the life of someone who has either passed on, whether in the line of duty or not, or retired. It is just one last nod to them that we are all grateful for the hard work, and for some, it is our way to honor that they gave everything to the job. I just felt that with the responses I got from every platform I posted this on, I would give Cyra one last nod.

EOW: Cyra Cruz

Attention all units, standby for an end-of-watch transmission.

Lieutenant Cyra Cruz of the Chicago Fire Department was a dedicated firefighter, leader, and friend. She was a brave protector of her people, and her memory will live on in the surviving members of Squad 7, Driver Geofri Afonin, Firefighter Forest Jackson, and Firefighter Jonas Barnes. Lieutenant Cruz started working for Chicago Fire Department in 2003 and quickly rose to the rank of Driver by 2005 and moved up to Lieutenant in 2007. Her skills were proven on and off shift on many occasions as Lieutenant Cruz used her medical and fire training on 21 off-duty calls, three of which were cardiac arrests she was able to revive on her own.

Lieutenant Cruz gave her life to the job. Lieutenant Cruz died in the line of duty from severe injuries sustained during a warehouse fire and structural collapse a little over 24 hours ago, at 13:07. Lieutenant Cruz was survived by her husband, Firefighter Joe Cruz of Truck 81, her cousin Lieutenant Matthew Casey of Truck 81, and her two children, Chad Cruz and Lily Mattie Cruz. Lieutenant Cruz leaves Squad 7 and Station 74, as well as Squad 3 and Station 51, behind in the wake of her passing.

Rest easy, sister. We'll take it from here. Dispatch clear, 15:26