While Fire Country season 3 ending with a major cliffhanger left the fates of Vince, Sharon and Walter Leone unexplained, one character is inevitably more at risk of not returning than others. Indeed, Deadline reported how two original Fire Country cast members wouldn’t return, Gabriela’s Stephanie Arcila and Vince’s Billy Burke. Fire Country showrunner Tia Napolitano confirmed the former, even expressing hope in her future return to continue Gabriela and Bode’s story, but refused to comment on the latter. Burke’s exit would already be unfortunate because of Vince’s importance to the story, but his comments make it even more tragic.
Billy Burke Has Nothing But Praise For His Fire Country Co-Stars
Story-wise, Vince’s contributions to Fire Country are undeniable, given his character’s centrality. Burke’s positive comments about the Fire Country cast nonetheless offer an insight into their bond behind the scenes, painting a picture of a close-knit group. In a Television Critics Association press tour panel in 2022, where Fire Country was first presented ahead of its release, various key Fire Country actors answered questions about the show, their characters and the experience. Billy Burke profusely praised his coworkers (via TVMeg.com) on that occasion, showing what kind of group they had built.

Related
How Fire Country Season 3 Ending Set Up Vince & Gabriela’s Exits
Fire Country season 3’s ending subtly set up Vince & Gabriela’s departures, which will have major consequences for Fire Country season 4.
Burke’s kind words showed the group’s dynamic, revealing how Diane Farr, who plays Sharon Leone, made the acting easy and interesting. The panel also revealed Burke’s happiness if he “feels like there’s something happening there,” along with the biggest of praises, after Burke admitted how Fire Country’s cast was the best he’s worked with in a long time, to the point that working with them makes things “a whole better” even after he sometimes arrives on set grumpy due to working in the early morning.
How Close The Fire Country Cast Seemed Makes Burke’s Exit More Difficult

How Fire Country Season 4 Can Write Out Vince Leone
Vince Dying Is The Only Possible Way For Fire Country To Write Him Out

Burke playing Vince Leone, father of the protagonist and an important member of Edgewater’s community, makes setting up his departure very difficult and necessarily tragic in Fire Country season 4. Were Vince and Sharon on the rocks, a divorce and a move away could potentially justify his disappearance. However, Vince and Sharon’s relationship couldn’t have been better in Fire Country season 3, with the two supporting one another through Walter’s illnesses and problems with Bode, making Burke’s exit coincide with something like Vince and Sharon breaking up essentially impossible in Fire Country season 4.
[Dying protecting his wife and father] would let Vince go out in a blaze of glory, also delivering a massive change in Fire Country season 4’s story.
Sources: Deadline, TVMeg.com
Enjoy ScreenRant’s primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check “Network TV” in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.