‘Fire Country’: Two Original Stars Exiting the Show Ahead of Season 4
[Warning: The article below contains major spoilers for Fire Country Season 4 and for the Season 3 finale, Episode 19, “A Change in the Wind,” and Episode 20, “I’d Do It Again.”]
For three seasons, the core cast of Fire Country has remained the same. But ahead of Season 4, the CBS firefighter drama is losing two of its seven series regulars.
Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke are on their way out, according to Deadline, meaning fans will be saying goodbye to firefighter Gabriela Perez and batallion chief Vince Leone.
Fire Country co-creators and executive producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan and executive producer and showrunner Tia Napolitano confirmed Arcila’s departure to Deadline. But they declined to confirm Burke’s exit, instead keeping secret the fates of Vince, wife Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), and father Walter Leone (Jeff Faley) — who were all trapped in a burning building in the finale — and Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway) — who had put in his two-week notice after accepting a new job.
Darko Sikman/CBS
The producers told Deadline the exits were creative decisions. “You always want to, on these shows, make sure that the threat is real, and also make sure that you are telling stories in an honest way, and that you’re finding the most exciting, creative way to tell the story,” Phelan said.
“Season 3 [is] leaning into the authenticity of the real-life heroes that our characters are playing, people die, they leave,” Napolitano said. “That’s a reality, there’s danger in this sort of job, so we wanted to honor that and really up the stakes. … You want the opportunity for that door to open, for someone to walk out of it, or for someone to walk into it. We’re really leaning into that aspect of the show as well as honoring the authenticity.”
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Napolitano added that they decided earlier in the season that Arcila would leave the show, and they spoke to her while shooting the finale.
“It was really a decision that came out of the dynamic between Bode and Gabriela; we felt like those two characters needed a reset,” Phelan said, adding that they’re hoping Arcila will come back as a guest star. “We love Stephanie, and we are committed to saying that the Bode-Gabriela story does not end here, it goes on.”
Fire Country, Season 4, TBD, CBS
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R
i will not continue watching the show if Vince or Sharon is killed off. I also wont watch 911 anymore. I know responders are in danger at alltimes but I watch these shows to enjoy how they live. Sharon and Vince have a great relationship to watch - not always smooth sailing but fun to see how they navigate life's ups and downs. I know I won't watch either show anymore and these are two of my favorites series.
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C
I agree
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B
I completely agree with you! Vince and Sharon are key parts to this show. Who will Sharon be without Vince. And now it just happens perfectly for Jake. Who would want that position that way. I just told my husband I’m not sure it’s worth watching if they kill Vince. That was before I read this article. And to 911, killing Bobby probably just killed the show!
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M
I agree. I always felt without Vince and Sharon the show would be weak. Can't believe that they're cutting out the heart. It kills the show for me.
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P
I agree with you. Tge show will not be the same
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C
I don't understand why all of a sudden shows are killing off main key characters. Bobby Nash in the contagion fallout on 9-1-1. Now (more than likely) Gabriella and Vince in the nursing home fire. I will stop watching. Along with 1000s of other viewers. I don't know if they can or will rectify this or not. We can only hope 🙏
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G
That’s how I felt about olinsky. Chicago pd
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R
Vince & Sharon have more chemistry than any couple I've seen. Don't mess with that!
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O
Do not take my favorite character off the show!! Billy Burke is essential to Fire Country. You need to do whatever it takes to keep him in edgewater!!!
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P
No.. you can't get rid of Billy Burke, just to make room for Jake to be leader. Vince and Sharon are the matriarchs of the show !! The whole dynamic will implode.
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P
Please don’t kill off Vince or Sharon! I can’t watch this show without them! They are as important as Bode if not more important! If you kill Vince,,,you kill the show!
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P
I completely agree. Vince and Sharon are major players. I will definitely be disappointed in the show if they lose Vince.
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B
Jake’s fine but he isn’t Vince. Billy Burke is singular and he and Diane Farr set the tone of the show. Bode is getting boring. I would rather have seen Gabriella killed off by Finn and it seemed like Walter’s time to go. I’m pretty sure he would gather have died in a fire than lose it with Alzheimer’s. It hasn’t been must watch TV for a while now. And the lose of Vince seems to be the end for me.
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G
If. You. Take. Vince. And. Sharon. Off. I. Won’t be watching it. Anymore. Even though. Bodie. Is. Good. The. Dynamic. With. Parents. Mae the. Show.
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B
No no no not Vince or Sharon!!!!!
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C
I agree with you but I think they should replace eve with Jake don't remove Vince just have him run the bar more Jake can never be Vince and don't replace Gabriella take the new girl off since she shot that guy send her somewhere else
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O
Facts: We retain bad writers at the expense of good actors and actresses.
Billy Burke left "Fire Country" because of a combination of factors, including creative choices by the producers and potentially a disagreement over contract terms. The producers cited a need to make the show feel fresh and authentic by creating "lean-in moments" and reflecting the real-life risks faced by first responders. The cast also reportedly pushed back against a request to reduce their episode counts and income for Season 3. Ultimately, the producers decided to write Burke's character, Vince, out of the show, with his character dying in the Season 3 finale.
Instead of begging them not to kill them off, we, the viewers, should say, "Don't think we're stupid and will just believe in a humanitarian reason to show what could happen to those in this kind of work!" Writers and producers always prioritize their bottom line! It would be nice if more writers and producers made better series, giving the world a choice of good shows, but that is not happening! There are very few shows that are worth the time to watch; we are witnessing a decline in creativity and the ability to keep a show interesting. When we do find one or two, it is disheartening that instead of continuing to write and produce these shows to maintain ratings and tighten budgets, they are rewarding bad writers with higher salaries and sacrificing talented actors and actresses to cover the costs.
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P
I think it’s wrong to have Vince and Gabriella leave. The show will not be the same. Upset about this
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G
Gabriella is being written out with the possibility of returning at a later time no it's not necessarily permanent but Vince is being killed off.
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R
Gabriella can go, her character is played out, but Vince needs to stay, if Vince goes I think the show will be gone in another year too. He is a strong character that you can't afford to lose. This show has so much potential and it has a history of killing off great characters.
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Vince is the reason I watch the show
If he doesn't return for season 4. I'm done withth the show.
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Same
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G
Please don't kill off Vince or Sharon. They have the kind of love on fire country that people in real life only dream about. I can not see myself watching it without either of them!
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Don't kill off Vince & Sharon they are great fir for the show
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B
When you start messing with the stars of the show, you lose your viewership. I will no longer watch if Vince or Sharon are gone. I also think writing Gabriella out is a fatal move.
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O
I think the writers are killing the show. Why would you kill off Vince big mistake. Gabrielle can go she gotten boring but not Vince. A lot of people will stop watching including myself. Why is it when there is a happy couple writer have to destroy it.
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I think Vince and Sharon r the Fondation of this show!!! U lose that your gonna lose fans!!! Just my opinion!!!
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G
Keep Vince and Sharon, get rid of Jake if someone has to go
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R
Please don’t take Vince and Sharon off. The whole cast is great , leave it alone!
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C
Billy Burke is who drew me to the show. The beginning premise with Max in the penal colony was great... Until the Gabrielle character. All of a sudden he, alone had all this freedom, that no other inmate had. It's really cool to learn about California Fire and what they deal with, even if it is fiction. I just liked the whole family thing with the fire action. Maybe some of the love and drama too... It's too early, too soon to break the family.
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P
I think that Billy Burke needs to stay
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B
It is not going to be the same with Vince gone that death was hard to swallow and I hate Gabrielle is leaving but don't want her and Bode back together I hope we see more of Audrey and Bode scenes there going to need each other and hope she don't go back to prison
And that Finn gets locked up if he lives, it will not be the same with Vince gone Sharon and Bode will have to hold it together and hoping for Bode and Audrey to have more screen time and work things out. RIP VINCE 🙏 YOU WILL BE MISSED
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M
The only reason I watch Fire Country is because of Vince and Sharon. The dynamic of those two are what carry the show. They are the best and strongest part. Burke is the best actor in this show along with Sharon they are natural. The rest feel a bit forced. The idea that it makes it true to real life is not a reason to get rid of your strongest character. Losing Vince is a deal breaker for me. I won't watch the show anymore as it will be extremely weak without his character. Please reconsider.
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O
Do not kill Vince off, if you do I am sure I will be watching something else
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Authenticity? There are hot chicks on the battalion.
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C
Let's see if u actually listen to what the fans want. Cuz I don't think u will NOT VINCE THIS IS CRAZY AND BIG MISTAKE
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C
I don't care if Gabriella leaves I like Bodie and Audrey relationship but Vince leaving stupid idea have Jake leave makes more since Vince helps makes that show and you're making big mistake.
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O
I've been in recovery from surgery and I'm just finding out that Vince and Gabby are no longer in Fire Country. cannot understand how you could mess with the incredibly strong relationship between the two strongest characters of the series! The love between Vince and Sharon is what carries the show through all of it's crises. It's what holds this series together! You are killing off a great show because millions of fans will leave the show. I know will no longer watch Fire Country without Billy Burke. I have followed him since before the Twilight series. He is a fantastic personality and the chemistry between him and Sharon is what people want in their own life. I guarantee the show will tumble without Billy Burke's character. It's too vital to the cohesion of the show.
Management needs to find another way to solve this problem. It's not the solution you need if you want to save the series. You have the power of negotiation....use it!
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P
Billy Burke is one of the reasons I even watch fire country. Such a great actor. Love him as Vince Leone and watching Vince and Sharon together as couple. Both great. Need this strong dynamic couple to guide the young characters. Big part of show.
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G
I will not watch fire county anymore if Vince goes off the show.
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G
Wow I sure hope not, been watching since the beginning and they all add to the show
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R
I don't want Bode and Gabriel together
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Sharon without Vince doesn't work for me at all.
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S
With Vince and Gabby gone, '25 -'26 shapes up as a make-or-break year for FC and its writers. Sharon often gave me a headache, but it never turned into a migraine if Billy Burke was at her side! As for Gabriela, I felt she and Bode had real chemistry (Remember the impact of the kiss before her wedding? "I'll always have your back, Gabby! "I know." "Promise me you will take of yourself, Gabby". "You will always be family." "Call me bro.") In Gabby, the screen writers had a rose that they decided to plant in the shade under a pine tree, and whenever a stray dog came along, that's where it did its business. I'm serious, Here's my evidence: Season 1 - Bode decides Gabriela deserves a boyfriend who is not a jailbird like he is. Season 2 - After 4 months of dating and no communication from Bode, she accepts Diego's proposal and spends the entire season dealing with her conflicted emotions. Season 3 - Episode 2 and she is already showing symptoms of depression (unexplained sadness and isolation), which worsen with her break from Bode. She self-medicates with tequila and meaningless sex, and endangers her life by cliff diving and running into a fire without protective gear. She makes a comeback of sorts, but not once did the writers see fit to provide her with a shoulder to cry on or a source of anti-depressant meds. Shameful, in my opinion. Don't like Gabby? Living with a real person or a fictional one suffering from depression IS NOT FUN.
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O
Looks like Fire Country is about to "jump the shark". Season 4 will probably be the final season.
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M
Personally I'm so over the Bode & Gabs relationship! Keeping it real-- sometimes in life you have let go of love in order to live. Otherwise life passes you by and it's too late for that love or life.
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O
If Gabriella is written off the show, that's fine she doesn't have much of a part anymore however, I think Vince should stay. He's more of a real type of a person. As far as Sharon goes she should be the one written off. I don't know why there's just something about her overbearingness that drives me crazy and I don't particularly like her character.... to be honest the only reason I watch the show is that I like Vince's cool mannerisms. Sharon is too fake for my liking.
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G
Getting rid of Gabriella sucks but, the shower will go on. As far as offing Vince....Idk how the show can, successfully, go on without him and the dynamic between him and the others. I'm still shocked and very disappointed because I love this show but, feel it won't be long lived without Vince.
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J
Ridiculous, people watch those shows because of the actors and the situations! I’m sick of CBS canceling shows like Blue Bloods and now getting rid of actors that we like!!!! I’m doing a slow burn!!!!
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C
Dang sounds like I won't be watching the next season...i truly was hoping she woke up and realized they were meant to be together, not the blonde ughhhh. Brode and Gabrielle! Then to lose Vince??? Na I'm good peace out show. Good luck!
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P
There are several ways you could have done this show and keep the characters and actors Vince and Sharon on. This is stupid to get rid of them and without them you mine as well cancel the show. You writers and producers are so stupid anymore...let's just ignore the public who watches these shows and keeps you employed!!!
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B
stopped killing off Billy Burke, been following him for years. I like him.makes no sense, He's the reason I watch.
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P
They are about to kill the show. Bode is not the star. The Vince-Sharon dynamic is what carries Fire Country. IMO
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G
For goodness sake, tell Bode/Theriot to perk up . He is so blah.
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O
Do not kill Vince off, if you do I will be watching something else
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R
Authenticity? What was authentic about the scenes in the nursing home there were no sprinklers going off at all. Did I miss a line where they said they weren’t working? Very noticeable inauthentic moment and I’m not a firefighter.
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G
You can see the foreshadowing of Vince being killed off. I knew it!
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G
Gabriela needed to go!!! The show might (maybe) become watchable again.
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O
Totally Agree. !! Glad she's not with Bode
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