e were on our way home after producing our HL | Milestone Series event in Silicon Valley, traveling south on Interstate 5 through California. After a long day and with several more hours of driving ahead it was time for a break.

Our destination: In-N-Out Burger in Kettleman City. Nothing particularly glamorous about that. The restaurant was packed. It seemed like a hundred people were inside, all doing essentially the same thing we were: stretching their legs, grabbing something to eat and getting ready for the next stretch of highway. I decided to head back to the car while my wife, Gabriela, waited for our food.

A few minutes later, my phone rang.

“Listen,” she said. “I think the actress from Chicago Fire is in here waiting for food.”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Wait…Is That Stella Kidd?

We watch Chicago Fire regularly, so I knew exactly who Gabriela was talking about: Miranda Rae Mayo, who has portrayed firefighter and Lieutenant Stella Kidd since joining the NBC series in 2016.

Then I remembered something else. Mayo is originally from Fresno, California, right here in the Central Valley. Maybe Gabriela really had spotted Stella Kidd at an In-N-Out Burger in Kettleman City. I made my way back through the crowd. Sure enough, she was right. There, among all the travelers waiting for burgers and fries alongside Interstate 5, was Miranda Rae Mayo.

I caught her eye, smiled and simply said, “I know who you are.”

She smiled back.

Knowing When to Say Hello

Over the years, my work has given me the opportunity to interview quite a few celebrities and encounter many others away from the cameras. There is an etiquette to those moments.  When someone is simply living their life having dinner, traveling or spending time with family they don’t necessarily want to become the center of attention. I completely understand and respect that.

This felt like an opportunity to simply say hello.

I told Miranda how much Gabriela and I enjoy her performances on Chicago Fire and, particularly, the character she has helped develop in Stella Kidd.

Kidd is strong, determined and capable, but what I appreciate about the character goes beyond that. Her leadership, professionalism and willingness to take responsibility make her the kind of television character who can resonate with women and men alike.

What started as a quick hello turned into a genuinely enjoyable conversation. Gabriela joined us, and Miranda introduced us to her sister, who was traveling with her. Soon the four of us were standing inside a crowded In-N-Out talking about travel, Chicago Fire and what was next.

That’s when the story became even more interesting.

Miranda shared that they were headed to San Francisco for a few days and then on to Paris, France.

Kettleman City to San Francisco to Paris. Not a bad itinerary and certainly not the conversation we expected to have when we pulled off Interstate 5 looking for an In-N-Out Burger.

From California to Firehouse 51

There is a nice California connection to Mayo’s story.

Born in Fresno, she began performing in local theater productions and attended Roosevelt High School before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Her television work has included The Game, Days of Our Lives, Pretty Little Liars, True Detective and Blood & Oil.

But for millions of viewers, Mayo is Stella Kidd.

She joined Chicago Fire in 2016, and viewers have watched Kidd develop from a firefighter at Firehouse 51 into one of the show’s central leaders.

That’s part of what I wanted to tell Miranda that afternoon.

Her portrayal isn’t simply about playing a firefighter. Stella Kidd represents confidence, leadership, resilience and the ability to earn the respect of the people around her.

Having now briefly met the actress behind the character, I can add something else.

Miranda Rae Mayo is a class act.

She didn’t have to stop and talk with us. She didn’t have to introduce us to her sister or share a little about where their travels were taking them.

But she did.

No red carpet. No press line. No television cameras.  Just four people having a nice conversation in Kettleman City.

Before we said goodbye, I shared with Miranda how much Gabriela and I were looking forward to the next season of Chicago Fire.

As it turns out, we won’t have to wait much longer.  Chicago Fire returns for its 15th season on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, continuing the story of Firehouse 51 and giving us another opportunity to see what’s next for Stella Kidd.

We certainly weren’t expecting a celebrity sighting when we pulled off Interstate 5 that afternoon. But that’s one of the things I’ve learned after more than 30 years of discovering and documenting stories: You never know who or what story you might find along the way.

Best wishes to Miranda Rae Mayo and the entire Chicago Fire cast as they begin Season 15.  We’ll be watching.

Miranda Rae Mayo
2026 Emmy Awards (Instagram)