When Fire Country Season 4 kicked off in early October, viewers watched Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila) make the difficult decision to leave Edgewater. Still reeling from the tragic fire that claimed Vince Leone’s (Billy Burke) life, Gabriela chose to step away—not only to process her grief but also to sort through her complicated feelings for Bode Leone (Max Thieriot).
She accepted a role helping Cal Fire recruit first responders across the country, a move that took her away from her hometown and the people she loves, including her father, Manny (Kevin Alejandro). While it was a painful goodbye, it was also a necessary step for her to rediscover herself.
Given Gabriela’s importance to the show and her emotional connection to the audience, fans have been wondering what prompted Stephanie Arcila’s departure. Interestingly, the creative team hinted at this shift long before Season 4 premiered.
In an interview with Deadline after the Season 3 finale, executive producer and co-creator Joan Phelan revealed that the decision was rooted in the show’s evolving direction.
“It really just comes down to what’s best creatively,” she said in April 2025.
Showrunner Tia Napolitano elaborated, noting that the world of firefighting comes with inherent risks—and the show wanted to reflect that.
“There’s danger in this sort of job, so we wanted to honor that and really up the stakes,” she explained. “You want the opportunity for that door to open—for someone to walk out of it, or for someone to walk into it.”
Season 4 has certainly followed through, with Bode wrestling with his future and Sharon Leone (Diane Farr) trying to cope with losing her husband. But what does this mean for Stephanie Arcila’s future on the series?
While her return hasn’t been confirmed, Stephanie left the door open during another Deadline interview.
“I never say never,” she shared. “Life takes us through many avenues, and Gabriela has been such a gift to me personally and professionally… These writers always surprise me, and I have no expectations—just excitement.”
With that hopeful outlook, fans aren’t giving up on the possibility of Gabriela reappearing in Edgewater someday. And maybe—just maybe—we’ll see her and Bode find the happy ending many viewers are rooting for.
