Fire Country has proven itself to be a hit for CBS. As network television continues to look for shows that maintain that classic format and procedural structure, while still bringing in new viewers, Fire Country has been a success story that others are attempting to emulate. Indeed, Fire Country is a ratings titan in the modern industry, with Season 1 averaging nearly 9 million viewers, and Season 2 looking at just over 7! It seems the most recent series is yet to have a significant drop-off, indicating that CBS should have confidence in the brand as it moves forward to new horizons. Right now, ratings are absolutely critical, as the battle between network TV and streaming platforms continues.
What’s most interesting is that CBS has also commissioned a spinoff of Fire Country, officially turning it into a franchise! Titled Sheriff Country, it’s not surprising that the series will focus on law enforcement, but will still be set in the same universe. So, while there is a discussion to be had about what a potential fourth season of Fire Country may look like, the fact that there will be another installment of this series, in a slightly different form, is just as exciting. With the potential for characters from Fire Country to show up in the spinoff, all eyes should be on the next season and how that may be impacted by this news. Because the fact is, a crossover of some kind is bound to happen early on.
Fire Country Just Concluded With a Major Cliffhanger
Fire Country, Season 3, consisted of 20 episodes in total and ran from the October 18th, 2024 until the April 25th, 2025. Fans are still processing all the action, drama, and chaos that the series managed to pack into its lengthy run, and it seems that this 20-episode formula could become the new normal. Because while Season 2 only contained 10 episodes, both Season 1 and Season 3 have been around the 20 episode mark, which could imply that fans should expect more of the same, moving forward. What’s also notable is that the finale boasted an impressive near 4 million live viewership, meaning the series went out on a high and should perform in a similar capacity when it returns. While other procedural shows fade away, this remains strong.
Elsewhere, Jake has been contemplating whether to take on a new job, and actually gave in his notice, suggesting he’ll be leaving the show for good. But with everything set to change again and the dynamic of the ensemble to be altered, it’s possible that Jake might stick around for the foreseeable future. Naturally, there are also questions to be answered about how the characters will deal with the traumatic events of this finale. Because if there is a death on the scene, then Jake isn’t the only one who may alter their plans considerably, as they come to terms with what’s taken place. Again, there are loose threads to pick up here.
Season 4 Has Been Greenlit and is Coming Soon
Luckily for Fire Country fans, these questions will be getting answers in a confirmed fourth season of the show. CBS made the official announcement not long after the third season aired. It appears that this will air concurrently with the spinoff show Sheriff Country, but there is no news yet on when that will be, specifically. While early schedules place the shows as having a Fall debut, with some rumors suggesting that a September start date seems likely, there is yet to be word on a final day and date. Needless to say, this will run from 2025 through early 2026.
Recent interviews concerning the show’s future also seem to reveal that the executive producers, creators, and showrunner are staying on for Season 4. That means that Joan Rater and Tony Phelan will serve as continuing producers, while Tia Napolitano carries on as showrunner. Rater previously produced on Grey’s Anatomy and A Small Light, and will also help oversee Sheriff’s Country. Meanwhile, Tony Phelan has worked on many of the same projects, like Doubt and Council of Dads. They are an irreplaceable creative partnership that will continue to guide this series to further accolades.
Tia Napolitano has been a guiding hand in all of this and has remained a constant in those producers’ filmographies. Again, Grey’s Anatomy and Council of Dads pop up in her filmography, but it appears she will not be working on Sheriff Country. Fellow creator Max Thieriot will also remain a key part of the show and is set to continue starring as lead Bode Leone, so there will be a lot of continuity and consistency there for Season 4. As of right now, Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jerry Bruckheimer and colleague Jonathan Littman will continue receiving executive producer credits, as critical members of the extended Fire Country team, as the show is a product of Jerry Bruckheimer Television.
There are still yet to be a few further confirmations though, as Season 4 takes shape. The show will, of course, continue to shoot in Vancouver and will move forward with Fil Eisler’s classic theme. But it’s unclear who will be scoring the fourth season, and what directors will be brought on board for individual episodes. Familiar names like Bill Purple, Sarah Wayne Callies and Gonzalo Amat have been involved in all three seasons of the show so far, so it would seem strange not to see them return to direct on the fourth season.
Major Cast Members are Set to Return
Looking at the cast, as previously stated, Max Thieriot will be returning. Other key performers such as Kevin Alejandro, known for Arcane and Lucifer, Black Lightning’s Jordan Calloway, and Grey’s Anatomy’s Diane Farr will also be making their own comebacks in critical roles. Indeed, it seems as if the majority of the main cast will be staying put, with newcomer Jared Padalecki, known for Supernatural, becoming a focal point of the franchise moving forward. No newcomers have been announced as of yet, but there are a couple of departures to take into consideration.
Sadly, according to reports, both Stephanie Arcila, who portrays Gabriela Perez, and Billy Burke, known for playing Vince Leone, will be leaving the show. That’s quite a shocking piece of news, and while it’s unclear how Gabriela will be written out of the show, it seems that Vince will not be surviving his time in the retirement home, leading to a lot of grief needing to be processed in the upcoming season. While there is always the potential for Arcila to potentially guest star in future seasons, and perhaps even feature lightly in Season 4, this is very much the end of her run as a reccurring member.
Fire Country Season 4 is certainly happening and will be shaped and influenced by those spinoff plans, departures, and the desire to ensure that the show remains competitive in the modern entertainment market. While there are compelling threads to wrap up from Season 3, there’s also an opportunity to reinvent the show again, as a new ensemble finds its feet and the franchise becomes larger again. Season 4 is set to be guided by the same hands, though, which should give fans hope that there will be a familiarity in the way this material is conveyed. Fire Country Season 4 fans should keep an eye on the Fall schedule to get a sense of when to expect a return to this world.
