Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fire Country will have two fewer cast members next season, and one of those exits has been confirmed. The season three finale aired on CBS on Friday.
Max Thieriot, Billy Burke, Kevin Alejandro, Diane Farr, Stephanie Arcila, Jordan Calloway, and Jules Latimer star in the drama, which follows Bode Donovan (Thieriot), a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California
According to Deadline, Stephanie Arcila (above) will not return as a regular series member next season, but the door is open for her to return later. The second cast departure is potentially Billy Burke, but those involved with the series have not officially confirmed it.
Co-creator Tony Phelan said the following about Arcila’s exit in an interview with Deadline:
“It was really a decision that came out of the dynamic between Bode and Gabriela; we felt like those two characters needed a reset. We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on.
We’re hoping that we can bring that character back, because we think that they have such great chemistry, and the audience is really invested in the two of them. But we felt, with everything that’s happening in the finale and moving on into the next season, that it was time for that character to discover what’s next for her.”
Showrunner Tia Napolitano also spoke about the decision to shake up the cast now. She said the following:
“Especially in the beginning, we felt like we had lightning in a bottle. It just was magic, the chemistry with this cast. Season 2 was obviously very short because of the strike, and at this time, Season 3, leaning into the authenticity of the real-life heroes that our characters are playing, people die, they leave.
That’s a reality, there’s danger in this sort of job, so we wanted to honor that and really up the stakes. Again, coming from a show like Grey’s Anatomy for years and years, that’s how it works with character-driven dramas. You want the opportunity for that door to open, for someone to walk out of it, or for someone to walk into it. We’re really leaning into that aspect of the show as well as honoring the authenticity.”
Fire Country will return this fall to CBS.
What do you think? Do you watch this CBS series? Are you surprised by these cast exits on Fire Country?
Please don’t take Vince out, He was great on 911Lonestar which is gone now & was thoroughly enjoying him on Fire Country… Keep him in.. if anyone, maybe Walter should go as he is not well & very confused, 🙁 the poor dear! Besides Vince & Sharon make such a loving couple. 🙂
Killing off Vince is going to kill the show! Really you want to get rid of him? You are taking one of the main characters that we enjoy watching. I think this is the worst decision. As for Gabriella that’s fine let her go for now, I think that will give Bode room to become who he should be, but he can’t do that without Vince.
I truly feel CBS should cancel CBS!
I agree with you! CBS keeps canceling the best shows. Especially the ones with the most diverse casts. It really bugs me to keep seeing them making decisions that make no sense.
I’m so very tired of being invested in a series because of the main characters and then they either leave or are killed off as the seasons go on!! Nothing makes me quit watching more! Killed off a main character on 911, killed off a main character on Alert Missing Persons, etc. and so this may be another one that we mark off the list.
They killed off Bobby in 911 and now they’re killing off Vince in Fire Country. Killing off main characters kills the shows, so 2 shows I won’t be watching anymore.
You are going to pi–off so many people by cancelling Fire Country, it’s one of the best shows on TV! What are they thinking?
Absolute rubbish.
Drawn out beyond everything I have ever watched.
They ended Seal Team for this tosh.
Should only last as long as Firestarter by The Prodigy.
Seriously? Lightning in a bottle? Seriously? Taking Billy Burke off the show extinguished that flame. Seriously. I am excited for his future. Watching him guest star on M.I.A. along with Edward James Olmos and Sonia Braga will be wildly entertaining.
I feel that Vince should stay it would ruin the show with that said Gabriella can go for now…..