SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers about the two-part Season 3 finale of CBS‘ Fire Country, titled “A Change In the Wild” and “I’d Do It Again.”
EXCLUSIVE: Three seasons in, CBS’s Fire Country is making significant changes. The firefighter drama, which has retained its original seven-member main cast since the pilot—an uncommon feat these days—will enter its fourth season without two cast members, as reported by sources to Deadline.
The series had hinted at a potential exit for Jordan Calloway’s character, Captain Jake Crawford, who had given a two-week notice to seek better opportunities. However, it will be Stephanie Arcila, who plays the firefighter and paramedic Gabriela Perez, along with Billy Burke, portraying Vince Leone, who will be leaving the series.
In an exclusive interview, Fire Country co-creators Joan Rater and Tony Phelan, along with executive producer Tia Napolitano, confirmed Arcila’s departure as a regular cast member but refrained from commenting on Burke’s exit to maintain an element of surprise for fans.
Following the tense events leading up to the two-part Season 3 finale, fans worried for Gabriela, who escaped a dangerous stalker. Thankfully, she emerged physically unscathed from this ordeal. Unlike the abrupt exit of Peter Krause from ABC’s 9-1-1, neither Arcila nor Burke’s departures were disclosed during Fire Country‘s finale, which ended with a cliffhanger involving three characters trapped in a burning memory care facility.
The producers emphasized that while budget cuts are common in broadcast television, the decisions regarding departures were rooted in creative storytelling rather than financial constraints. “It’s really about what’s best for storytelling,” Rater stated, with Napolitano adding that the series aims to reflect the authentic dangers faced by firefighters, making stories high-stakes and genuine.
Although Gabriela’s journey may be evolving, the executive producers hope to see Arcila reprise her role in future seasons as a guest star. “We are committed to the Bode-Gabriela story, and we hope to bring her back,” Phelan shared. Arcila herself left the door open for a return, stating, “I never say never.” As for Burke, he is reportedly involved in other projects but is not directly linked to production decisions affecting Fire Country.
