After four seasons on ABC Family, teen drama Wildfire ends tonight. Devoted fans are understandably upset. So, why is it leaving?
Wildfire debuted back on June 25, 2005 and revolves around the world of horse racing. The series began with teen Kristine “Kris” Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) coming to the Raintree Farm from a juvenile detention center.
Season one averaged just over a million weekly viewers and season two increased to 1.56 million, an increase of over 50%. Unfortunately, season three dropped back to the first year’s numbers. Season four debuted in January. Soonafter, ABC Family announced that Wildfire had been cancelled.
Fans have petitioned ABC Family to continue the series. The folks at SaveWildfire.com have sent truckloads of hay, 500 cast iron horseshoes, apples, rope, and 1,000 pounds of carrots. Unfortunately, it’s higher ratings and additional viewers that the show really needs. As CBS learned from Jericho, a passionate campaign doesn’t necessarily mean that viewers will tune in.
ABC Family’s media relations manager, Amy Maloney, told the Albuquerque Journal that the fan support doesn’t come as much of a surprise. She said, “It is par for the course, in a sense that we’ve always known there is a strong fan base for the show… It’s flattering. It’s exciting.” In other words, Wildfire has a core audience but it’s not big enough for ABC Family.
Word is that Lionsgate, the company that produces the series, is looking for a new home for Wildfire. If the series is renewed, producer Lester Berman the cast and crew are ready. He says, “We’re saving a lot of the set dressing and the uniforms. We’re putting it in storage just in case there’s a miracle that [Wildfire] comes back.”
When the cast and crew wrapped their filming in June 2007, they were unsure if they would be back for season five. A few months ago, Cortese spoke proudly of Wildfire and the season four closer. She said, “I think we have one of the best casts and crews in television… On the other hand, we also end (this season) on a really cool note. I’d be glad to go back and get to work again with people I love, but if not, at least I’ll know we did a great job.” Stay tuned! 
please bring wildfire back!!! it gets u hooked im sad that its not going to continue. I like Ashley’s idea of bringing it back into a movie i think a lot of people would definitely watch it.
I had seen a couple episodes when Wildfire was on ABC. I have Netflix now and started watching it. I even got my husband hooked on it and we just watched all 4 seasons in just 2 weeks on the PS3. I did a search for the show on Yahoo and found some info on the show. It’s been 2 years since the show was cancelled so I’m guessing that it wont be coming back which sucks. But what I don’t get is why they haven’t considered another option. They could make a few movies from it. Doing it that… Read more »
I just watched all 4 seasons on netflix i loved the show. It should really come back on. It would get alot more viewers now. A lot of ppl watch abc family..
I didn’t watch wildfire from abc family, but i watched all 4 seasons in 4 in a half days! and i got hooked!!!! now that i realize that the fifth season isnt even out there i’m dissappointed. Plz bring wildfire back!!!!
pilz don’t stop w/fire writers wats up???????we love wilf fire here in Africa.and pliz let Matt flow in love with Kris again,they make it together.thx.
I started watching wildfire last year on Nexflix and as soon as the first episode started is was hooked! i just finished the last episode of season 4 and i am EXTREMELY DISAPOINTED! not because it was a bad ending, which is wasn’t, i loved the ending, loved loved loved it! but i was disapointed because the show was over! Please continue fliming Wildfire. i don’t think you realize how much people love the show, and in my eyes it is as good a lost. Please don’t give up on wildfire! at least make one more season! please!
dear abc family 10-16-2010 11:00 p.m
i miss your show wildfire why is has your show been canceled
did the show be canceled because of terriable ratings i hope u guys bring the show back soon
thank u im’ a loal fan of wildfire
I loved watching Wild Fire it was a great show. I wished it would not have been taken of the air. I watched it everytime it was on and i look foe the episodes to watch them all the time. My passion is for horses and when i seen that come on i was hooked and never watch anything the nights it was on. If it ever comes back on i will do the same thing and watch it again.
I watched wildfire from the begining. i will never forget one single episode it was amazing. i just finished watching season 4 for the 3rd time. there is plenty more room for more stuff please bring it back maybe a reuinon special or just one more season anything
i wish thAT WILDFIRE would come back on the air. i nevered missed a show. and when i went to watch it again it was gone. and after a little over a year i have to watch all the seasons off the super channels. i think that you should try super channels to keep it going. i like that show so much
My husband and I were hooked after watching the 1st episode on Netflix. We downloaded all the seasons and after putting the kids to bed, we found ourselves saying, “just one more”. I must say we’ve lost a lot of sleep because if it but it was worth it.
this series had to have had one of the best finales ever! The cast was awesome and the dialog was great. We’re both sad that it had to end.
I miss Wildfire so much! It was my favorite show on abc family for four years and I was shocked to see it go off. abc family hasn’t been the same without it and while I have a new favorite show on the channel it doesn’t compare to Wildfire. Although the show did end on a good note I would love to see it come back (on any channel)! I am sure it would do well especially if you continued to have love triangles, even without Kris and Junior in the mix. Of course they would still have to be… Read more »
I LOVE WILDFIRE IT IS ONE OF THE BEST TV SHOWS IVE EVER SEEN AND IT NEEDS TO KEEP GOING AND MAKE MORE SEASONS JUST LIKE OTHER SHOWS HAVE AND WILDFIRE DESERVES TO BE ON THE AIR AGAIN AND SHOULDNT GIVE UP JUST LIKE THEY DIDNT IN THE SHOW THEY KEPT PUSHING TO KEEP THE RANCH AND THE CAST AND CREW OF WILDFIRE SHOULD KEEP PUSHING TO BRING IT BACK I BELIEVE THAT WILDFIRE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO KEEP GOING BEFORE ITS TOO LATE BECAUSE IF WE WAIT TOO LONG WE WILL LOSE THE CREW CAUSE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND… Read more »
I watched Wilfire off and on during Season one and two. I was a single mother of two young kids when it started and had a third one during. I was working full time and going to school full time, which didnt leave me much time to watch tv. I love this show so much that I bought the dvds when they came out and now that it is on netflix I watch it alot. All three of my boys love sitting with me and watching this show. I would love to see a comeback for Wildfire the show. Other… Read more »
its a great insight to horses and the racing industry it should have more seasons plus the love stories and triangles were great.
great show, will be sadly missed, you should bring it back on air it would have far more viewers nw than ever before.