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! 
I am a 43 year old woman who loves this show! You might think that only young people watch this series but we older ones love it too. I had a conflict with time. Maybe they could have tried different time slots. Maybe even the night it was on. There is so,many cop shows and doctor shows out there that I found WILDFIRE so refreshing to watch. BRING IT BACK!
I have been a fan of wildfire since the pilot of season 1. My kids are just now getting into it and they can’t watch it. One of the reason’s the ratings went down is because everyone that was waiting for it to come back on had no real idea when it was. It wasn’t aired enough for the fans to know when to tune in for the next season. ABC Family and I are good freinds, theres not much I don’t watch on there. I have been waiting for the longest time to watch the next season and now… Read more »
I loved Wildfire, I watched this show when it was on TV then I got my mom hooked and even after I moved out we would be on the phone talking and watching it that way, it was great. I was very sad when it was cancelled. I was very happy when I got netflix and could watch it again that way. I wish they would have brought it back because it was such a great family show.
Another netflix watcher absolutely fell in love with wildfire watched all 4 seasons within a few weeks even though the series closed with JR and Kris getting married I think there could have been so much more done after that …. I know its a very slim chance but i would as well like to see wildfire back up
i love wildfire it is awesome and i wish it would come back on it was a grea show and a great life experoence so please bring it back on!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love wildfire!!!!!!!!!!!! They have changed my life !!!!!!!!!!!!!
i loved wildfire. I found a connaction with Kris, having no family and finding and making a family for herself. I started to watch it when it first came out and i was able to contuine the show on netflix, youtube, and hulu. I loved the show because it gave real life issues to life and showed ways to over come them I enjoyed the show and hope that there will be more seasons. Even though Wildfire might not be able to continue to race his son Flame can pick up where the father left off. Thanks for keeping the… Read more »
Hey this is kristen, I really love Kyle XY that was a good show. I am really glad that they ended with kris and junior getting together also. That was my favorite part.
What a fantastic TV series remined me of McLeods Daughters (Aust) feel good program with fantastic story lines and “real” characters. Congrats to all who were involved with this series 10/10 from me. I Loved It!
Wildfire was like a good book… I watched it with my teenage daughter when it aired on t.v. and we both have just watched all of the netfixs seasons (1-4) – it’s sad that there are no more episodes to watch. A movie is a great idea. I think I can speak for all of the Wildfire fans – we’re all wondering what happened to that amazing cast?
I love this series and am sad that it was canceled but if we can find a place for it on TV that be wonderful, but maybe for the fans we can make a movie or just make the series on dvd and let the people buy it if they desire. It’s just an idea.
Another Wildfire Netflix viewer here. Really like this show for some reason. Though it’s not the best acted show in the world, there is something about it that I really like.
Maybe because it’s not really an act, it’s real life issues out in a show that people can really relate to.
I have had the pleasure of watching Wildfire on Netflix and it was amazing. What happened to the show, it has such great family morals. I believe that we need more shows like this one. It had everyday situtions in it. Please bring it back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE BRING BACK WILDFIRE…. PLEASE
PLEASE BRING BACK WILDFIRE. I LOVED KRIS AND JUNIOR
WILDFIRE IS THE BEST!!!!
I also discovered Wildfire on Netflix and have purchased Seasons 1 thru 3 on DVD. It is an incredible show and I like it very much. I have written Lionsgate once a month to find out when they plan to release Season 4. Still they have no plans, but figure if I email them once a month and show an interest in the show, maybe they will release it sooner than later.
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ..PLEASE BRING IT BACK ..ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS ON TELEVISION…WHEN YOU HAVE A GOOD THING… KEEP IT GOING…
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that you can now watch all four seasons…just put it in your “Instant que” and you can stream all 54 episodes (seasons 1-4) =)