CBS has struck gold with two of the biggest breakout hits in network television, and the good news keeps pouring in for fans of both adrenaline-fueled dramas. The network has officially renewed Max Thieriot’s Fire Country and Justin Hartley’s Tracker for new seasons, a decision that not only guarantees more high-stakes action and compelling character arcs but also solidifies the importance of British Columbia, Canada, as a major North American production hub.
Both shows, while vastly different in subject matter—one focused on Cal Fire and inmate redemption, the other on a lone wolf reward specialist—share a crucial logistical element: they leverage the versatile, dramatic landscapes and established infrastructure of the Canadian province, particularly around Vancouver and its surrounding wilderness.
This double renewal is a massive win for the “Hollywood North” industry and ensures that viewers will continue to see the stunning Pacific Northwest scenery doubling for both Northern California (in Fire Country) and the varied, often remote locations Colter Shaw traverses (in Tracker).
🔥 Fire Country: Continuing the Redemption Arc
Fire Country, co-created by and starring Max Thieriot, has been an undisputed success story for CBS since its debut. Its blend of intense firefighting action and deep, emotional family drama, centered on the redemption journey of inmate Bode Donovan, struck an immediate chord with audiences.
The Renewal and What’s Next
- The Announcement: Fire Country has been renewed for its fourth season. This renewal reflects the show’s consistently high ratings, often dominating its Friday night time slot and becoming a massive hit on streaming platforms.
- The Narrative: Season 4 is expected to delve deeper into Bode’s precarious parole status and his evolving relationship with his family and Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila). The new season will undoubtedly feature more catastrophic wildfires, forcing the Cal Fire crew to confront not just the dangers of the job but the political pressures surrounding the inmate program.
- The BC Factor: The show has brilliantly utilized the diverse terrain of British Columbia to stand in for Northern California’s Sierra Nevada and redwood forests. The province offers production teams everything from rugged mountains and dense coniferous forests to vast, remote lakes—perfect for the large-scale action sequences that define Fire Country. The established film studios and specialized crew base in Vancouver make BC an efficient and cost-effective location for the demanding schedule of a network procedural.
The renewal is a testament to the show’s quality and Thieriot’s creative vision, ensuring that the saga of Firehouse 42 and Three Rock will continue to burn bright.
🗺️ Tracker: The Power of the Lone Wolf
Tracker, starring Justin Hartley as the enigmatic survivalist Colter Shaw, was the surprise breakout hit of the season. Based on the novel The Never Game, the show follows Shaw as he travels the country using his expert tracking and survival skills to locate missing persons and collect hefty reward money.
The Instant Success and Next Chapter
- The Announcement: Tracker was renewed for its second season almost immediately after its premiere, a rarity in today’s highly competitive broadcast landscape. Hartley’s star power, coupled with the show’s episodic, case-of-the-week structure, made it an instant ratings winner, particularly following the Super Bowl debut.
- The Narrative: Season 2 will likely see Colter delve deeper into the mystery surrounding his family and his father’s bizarre death, while continuing his cross-country missions. Viewers can expect more high-octane chases, complex survival scenarios, and the expansion of his small, dedicated network of support.
- The BC Factor: Though Tracker is set to take place across America, the production relies heavily on the visual flexibility of British Columbia. The province’s ability to convincingly stand in for states ranging from California and Montana to Washington and Oregon is key to the show’s premise. The seamless transition between coastal towns, snowy peaks, urban centers, and remote desert-like areas is achieved through BC’s unique geography and state-of-the-art visual effects capabilities. The renewal locks in the jobs and investment that come with a major, global CBS hit utilizing local talent and resources.
The success of Tracker confirms Justin Hartley as a reliable leading man for the network and provides BC with another long-term, high-value production commitment.
🇨🇦 Hollywood North: A Double Win for British Columbia
The simultaneous renewal of two such high-profile, production-intensive dramas underscores British Columbia’s status as a global powerhouse for television production. This double commitment provides substantial economic benefits and highlights the region’s versatility.
Economic and Creative Impact
- Job Security and Investment: Both shows require large crews, utilizing local talent for everything from stunt coordination and special effects (essential for both fires and chases) to set design and logistics. The renewals ensure hundreds of steady, high-paying jobs remain in the region for the foreseeable future.
- Geographical Versatility: BC’s landscape is arguably the third main character in both shows. Fire Country benefits from the temperate rainforests and mountains near Vancouver to create believable wilderness settings, while Tracker uses the distinct architecture and diverse environments to fake locations across the US.
- Studio Infrastructure: The presence of world-class sound stages, post-production facilities, and equipment rental companies in Vancouver and the surrounding areas allows large-scale network productions to operate with efficiency and precision that rivals Los Angeles.
The decisions by CBS to not only keep production in BC but to double down on it with two major renewals serves as a powerful endorsement of the region’s ability to handle complex, demanding television on a massive scale.
🎬 Looking Ahead: The Future of Action Drama
The continued success of Fire Country and Tracker suggests that network television audiences are hungry for high-stakes, character-driven action dramas centered on modern heroes. The renewal of both shows means fans can expect more of the unique blend of emotional sincerity and physical intensity that they have come to love.
Whether viewers are following Bode Donovan’s fight for redemption on the fire line or tracking Colter Shaw’s next missing person across rugged terrain, the quality and commitment to production—largely supported by the dedicated crews and stunning locations of British Columbia—are undeniable. The next seasons promise to be the biggest and most challenging yet for both the heroes and the production teams supporting them.
