The Country of Fire the exits keep coming with showrunner Aunt Napolitano leaving after multiples outputs to the screen.
“Tia has been instrumental in helping build and direct Fire Country, which not only became a top-rated series, but is also the foundation of a growing universe,” said the CBS Entertainment president. Amy Reisenbach and president of CBS Studios David Stapf said in a joint statement a TVLine on Friday January 16. “We are grateful for all of her contributions and tireless work, and look forward to working with her on future projects.”
Napolitano released his own statement, which read, “I’m beyond proud of the last four seasons of Fire Country. All my thanks to our cast, crew, writers, producers, fans, and of course CBS and CBS Studios. It’s been a beautiful ride!”
Multiple outlets included Deadline reported that no replacement for Napolitano has yet been found. He has been with the show since it premiered on CBS in 2022. Before his departure, Napolitano spoke exclusively with Us Weekly about what was waiting for the rest from the fourth season.
Fire Country went through several surprising cast changes and demotions before Season 4, but which characters are returning to the show? The CBS series, which premiered in 2022, follows inmate Bode (Max Thieriot) as he tries to shorten his prison sentence by volunteering at California’s conservation camp program. After being assigned (…)
“(You should) be worried. We have Bode and Tyler in a fire shelter in the middle of a fire. These things are made for one, there are two lives,” the executive producer shared in December 2025. “And we have Jake and his brother on the side of a cliff. You see how many times this vehicle has been hit. We see the head and the surface.”
Napolitano said these are “not easy things to come back from,” adding, “We’re going to see how our people fight to get out of there.” He also revealed that there was a “big twist” in the midseason premiere, which will air on February 27.
“It’s going to change everything that impacts Bode tremendously. He’s going to really fight to continue on his path to the progress and growth that we love to see him in. He’s made these good decisions, even though he’s still struggling, and he’s won those battles and he’s really become someone that can continue to be someone that Tyler wants to grow into,” he said. “Bode is a role model. Look how far we’ve come.”
He continued, “Eve’s going to find her way with these new guys at Three Roc. Sharon’s learning even more how to stand on her own. Ruby, her mom, is coming back. There’s a lot of surprises and twists and turns and thrust coming out of this twist that comes at the end of the midseason premiere.”
Country of Fire has received backlash after Season 3 ended on a cliffhanger with Vince and Sharon’s lives hanging in the balance. The news broke hours after the finale aired in April 2025 budget cuts caused Billy Burke i Estefania Arcilathe exits
“It’s a fire show. Anyone can go at any time,” Napolitano told Us in October 2025. “But in terms of losing people, we’re also adding a really fun guest cast. It’s a revolving door of people from Sharon’s past and new faces that are exciting to bring conflict and secrets and twists.”
Neapolitan he teased how the show will have to balance “really spice it up” while still walking a “fine line” of paying tribute to the loss.
“What we’ve done is really thread the needle of honor, especially Vince, because Gabriella’s gone, but she’s gone on to a happy, successful life. She’s still there. But we really follow that line of honoring Vince while also finding hope pretty quickly,” he noted. “Looking forward, the theme of the season is rising from the ashes and recovery.”
Napolitano continued, “How do you recover from something like this? And we’re really going to see everyone rise to the occasion, in celebration of Vince, of his life and in honor of the sacrifice that he made.”
Country of Fire returns to CBS on Friday, February 27 at 9:00 PM ET. New episodes will stream the next day on Paramount+.