Why Stephanie Arcila & Billy Burke Are Exiting Fire Country Before Season 4

Bode, Gabriela, and Vince in Fire Country.
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic

Fire Country returns with season 4 in the fall of 2025, releasing new episodes on Fridays at 9 pm ET on CBS (per TVLine).

Over the course of Fire Country, Bode has faced many highs and lows. Heading into season 4, he’s out of prison and officially a Cal Fire firefighter, which is great, but Bode’s current position is marred by the fact that two of the people closest to him are leaving the show. So, when Fire Country season 4 premieres in fall 2025, Bode will be missing his father (Vince Leone, played by Burke) and his ex-girlfriend (Gabriela Perez, portrayed by Arcila).

Fire Country Let Go Of Stephanie Arcila & Billy Burke For Creative Reasons

The 2 Actors Didn’t Ask To Leave The Show

When asked about why Gabriela and Vince are leaving Fire Country, Rater explained, “It really just comes down to what’s the best creatively.” Napolitano added, “That’s a reality, there’s danger in this sort of job, so we wanted to honor that and really up the stakes.” Essentially, the creative minds behind the action drama wanted to instill real stakes into its story (which certainly isn’t good news for Gabriela or Vince’s fates in season 4). The showrunner also said that Fire Country is “leaning into the authenticity of the real-life heroes that our characters are playing, people die, they leave.”

What Billy Burke Has Said About Leaving Fire Country

Billy Burke as Vince Leone in Fire Country season 3 episode 20
Bode talking to Gabriela and looking stressed in Fire Country season 3

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Stephanie Arcila Addresses Gabriela & Bode’s Relationship Following Fire Country Exit

EXCLUSIVE: Stephanie Arcila’s Gabriela is leaving Fire Country after season 3, meaning Bode and Gabriela’s relationship might be over for good.

What Stephanie Arcila Has Said About Leaving Fire Country

Arcila Has Expressed Interest In Returning

Gabriela faces and speaks to Bode in Fire Country season 2

Fire Country star Stephanie Arcila has been very vocal about her exit in the wake of the season 3 finale. While speaking with ScreenRant‘s Rachel Foertsch, Arcila addressed her reaction to the news that she was leaving the show. The actress said:

The former Fire Country cast member also revealed that she has “no idea” if she’ll return to the CBS action drama in the future. However, when Deadline asked if she wanted to come back, Arcila claimed, “I say never say never.” The executive producers are also seemingly open to Arcila reprising her role as Gabriela in future seasons. Tony Phelan told Deadline:

“We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on. We’re hoping that we can bring that character back, because we think that they have such great chemistry, and the audience is really invested in the two of them.”

Fire Country showrunner Tia Napolitano built on to Phelan’s statement with, “We hope to see her back very soon, to give her a proper not goodbye, but see you later.” So, by all accounts, it seems like fans will see Gabriela return to Fire Country at some point in the future. Her coming back just hasn’t been made official (yet).

How The Absence Of Gabriela & Vince Will Impact Fire Country Season 4

1 Character Might Die

Diane Farr as Sharon Leone, Max Thieriot as Bode Leone and Billy Burke as Vince Leone in Fire Country
Image via CBS

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