Fire Country has been turning up the heat ever since it blazed onto screens in 2022, and it’s showing no signs of cooling off. Co-created by Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan, and Joan Rater, the series doesn’t just chase flames in the forests—it chases the sparks, burns, and bruises in its characters’ lives, too. Front and center is Bode Donovan (played by Max Thieriot), an inmate swapping a prison cell for a fire line in California, where every blaze fought is a step closer to freedom.

Over three seasons, it’s been this perfect mix of adrenaline-pumping rescues and gut-hitting emotion, all while tipping its hat to the real-life volunteers in the California Conservation Camp Program. And with that Season 3 finale leaving viewers clutching their hearts—after Sharon, Vince, and Walter are trapped inside the care home as the roof gives way—fans are waiting for Season 4 to answer their smoldering hot questions. So here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming season.

When Will Fire Country Season 4 Be Released?

Circle the date and maybe even set two alarms—Fire Country is firing back up sooner than you might’ve guessed. The Friday night slot on CBS is still home base, but the big return comes with a little twist. For its comeback, the premiere will hit an hour earlier than usual—Friday, October 17, 2025, at 8/7c—before sliding the mic over to Sheriff Country at 9/8c. One week later, on October 24, everything clicks back into place, with Fire Country reclaiming its regular 9/8c perch and Sheriff Country settling in beside it.

It’s been a long stretch since the smoke cleared on that jaw-dropper of a Season 3 finale, and fans have been left pacing the floor for answers. Bode’s path has never been the smooth kind, but last season’s final blow might be the thing that pushes him right to the edge.

CBS clearly isn’t letting that tension cool. They have locked in the new season without missing a beat. Just don’t expect a rinse-and-repeat because Season 4 is rolling in like a backdraft, ready to shake up everything you thought you knew.

Who’s Suiting Up and Who’s Sitting Out in Fire Country Season 4

Fans might want to brace themselves for some bittersweet news—Season 4 will be the first without two of the show’s original stars. Billy Burke, who plays Vince, and Stephanie Arcila, who brings Gabriela to life, are not returning as series regulars. The reveal came right after the Season 3 finale aired, hitting viewers like a backdraft.

Season 3’s ensemble included Max Thieriot as Bode, Billy Burke as Vince, Kevin Alejandro as Manny, Diane Farr as Sharon, Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela, Jordan Calloway as Jake, and Jules Latimer as Eve. Jake’s storyline has teased a potential captain’s role in Butte. So we can assume that Calloway is not among those stepping away from the show.

The departures of Burke and Arcila leave plenty of questions unanswered. For Vince, the outlook is grim. It is especially because he was last seen trapped in a dangerous blaze. Though no one’s officially confirmed his fate, it’s hard to ignore the possibility of something devastating. It might happen that he won’t make it out alive from that fire. Executive producer Tia Napolitano said (via Deadline),

We are not going to confirm who we’re losing. There will definitely be a devastating loss for everyone that remains in our family. No, shooting the finale, none of the actors knew.

Gabriela’s exit, on the other hand, is less final. She isn’t being killed off, but the reasons for her absence are still under wraps. What’s clear is that her departure will ripple through the storyline. It will change up the dynamics in ways fans will feel immediately.

What to Expect in Fire Country Season 4

If Fire Country has a signature move, it’s yanking the floor out from under you right when you think you can breathe. Season 3’s finale didn’t just crank the dial—it ripped it clean off. Bode, being Bode, tossed the rulebook aside and ran headlong into the inferno at Buena Vista nursing home, determined to haul people out. A few of his crew followed him in, and in no time, the whole thing went sideways.

By the time the flames had their say, the roof had caved, and Vince, Sharon, and Walter were still inside. With Burke’s exit from the series, Vince’s chances look heartbreakingly slim—something that would hit Bode like a sucker punch to the soul. Sharon’s survival feels a little more certain, but Walter? He’s still dangling in the unknown.

If Vince doesn’t make it, Bode’s world could shake and crumble. He’s fought tooth and nail to keep himself on track. But grief always has a way of rewriting the map. Add to that Gabriela’s mysterious absence. It is like a quiet, lingering hollow that suddenly makes his compass spin. Maybe her disappearance folds neatly into the larger story, maybe it’s its own thing, but either way, it leaves Bode staring at a future that feels foreign.

Season 4 won’t just be about battling flames out in the field—it’s about wrestling with the ones that sneak up on you when the smoke clears.