Taylor Kinney returns to Chicago Fire season 12 after a hiatus

Taylor Kinney is finally returning to Firehouse 51. The 42-year-old actor, who plays Lieutenant Kelly Severide on NBC’s Chicago Fire, will return in season 12 after taking a break from the famous NBC procedural earlier this year, PEOPLE has learned.

A source close to the production of Chicago Fire previously confirmed to PEOPLE in January that Kinney was leaving the show. The time off was for him to «deal with a personal matter,» albeit no further details were provided at the time. His absence from the show was partially addressed in a season 11 episode as being due to a last-minute opportunity for Severide to attend «the best arson investigation training program in the world.» When Severide did not return to Chicago after the show ended, his wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), and fans were concerned.

Taylor Kinney is finally returning to Firehouse 51. The 42-year-old actor, who plays Lieutenant Kelly Severide on NBC’s Chicago Fire, will return in season 12 after taking a break from the famous NBC procedural earlier this year, PEOPLE has learned.

A source close to the production of Chicago Fire previously confirmed to PEOPLE in January that Kinney was leaving the show. The time off was for him to «deal with a personal matter,» albeit no further details were provided at the time. His absence from the show was partially addressed in a season 11 episode as being due to a last-minute opportunity for Severide to attend «the best arson investigation training program in the world.» When Severide did not return to Chicago after the show ended, his wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), and fans were concerned.