why did mills leave chicago fire

The character Peter Mills left Chicago Fire to move to North Carolina and help his family with their restaurant business. His departure was a creative decision made by the show's producers to refresh the storylines and introduce new characters rather than due to any actor-related issues. The showrunners felt Mills' story had reached a natural conclusion, and they wanted to respect the character by giving him a meaningful and positive exit instead of killing him off. The actor Charlie Barnett, who played Mills, was surprised by the decision but understood it was made for storytelling reasons to keep the show dynamic and engaging.