EXCLUSIVE: Watch Dawson dis Welch in next week’s ‘Chicago Fire’ (VIDEO)

Bad boy Tommy Welch (Kenny Johnson) returns to “Chicago Fire” Tuesday, and Firehouse 51 isn’t about to give him a warm welcome, as you can see in this exclusive first look at next week’s episode:

While working in Austin, Welch made plenty of enemies at 51. He’s come to blows with Lt. Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer), proven himself to be a misogynistic jerk with Dawson (Monica Raymund) and tried to pin a near-fatal engine-truck collision on Cruz (Joe Minoso).

Welch is filling in on Rescue Squad 3 thanks to interim Chief Pat Pridgen (guest star Matthew Del Negro), who’s running the show while Boden (Eamonn Walker) takes some personal time after the death of his father and the birth of his baby.

“Welch got knocked down a few pegs after the whole engine-truck collision,” showrunner Matt Olmstead said in a recent interview. “His arc is pretty rich in that here’s a guy who comes back, and he’s looking for a home, essentially. He can’t be too choosy. Here he’s coming back to 51 fully aware there’s probably going to be some hostility. In his mind, ‘Hey, if they walk up and say no hard feelings, shake my hand, I’m ready to go to work.’ But it turns out that’s not their reaction. He’s got to defend himself. He can’t show weakness. He can’t roll over. It becomes contentious.”

As the clip shows, Dawson doesn’t want — or need — Welch’s help during a raging house fire.

“Make a hole,” Dawson snaps as she carries a victim out of the blaze, as does Otis (Yuri Sardarov), who gets a nod of approval from Chief Pridgen.

I wonder if Pridgen will approve of Casey’s new girlfriend, Beth (guest star Bree Williamson) aka MRS. PRIDGEN?

Tuesday’s episode, “Headlong Toward Disaster,” airs at 9 p.m. (Central) on NBC.

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