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

After three seasons, Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke are leaving Fire Country, meaning their characters' stories are coming to an end (at least, for now) in season 4. The CBS action drama, created by Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan, and Joan Rater, follows Thieriot's Bode Leone, a convict who volunteers for the California Conservation Camp Program to shorten his prison sentence at the beginning of the series. While assisting Cal Fire through the program, Bode comes face-to-face with his troubled past when he gets assigned to his hometown.

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

According to a report from Deadline, co-creators/executive producers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan and executive producer/showrunner Tia Napolitano confirmed Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke's Fire Country exits following the season 3 finale. During the interview, they insisted that budget concerns weren't to blame for the two stars' departures (although that likely came into play). Fire Country certainly isn't the only broadcast show reducing its cast as of late. Nevertheless, the official reasoning behind Arcila and Burke's exits from the CBS series is creative.

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

Burke Hasn't Publicly Commented On His Exit

In the weeks following the two-part Fire Country season 3 finale, Billy Burke hasn't commented on his exit from the show (unlike Stephanie Arcila — more on that below). Based on his lack of reaction to the news, it seems as though his departure came as a surprise to Burke. It only gets worse when learning about Burke's statement regarding his Fire Country cast at the 2022 Television Critics Association press tour. The actor praised his costars and even exclaimed that the Fire Country cast was one of the best he's ever worked with. Now, Burke is leaving the series.

What Stephanie Arcila Has Said About Leaving Fire Country

Arcila Has Expressed Interest In Returning

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:

"I think I was in shock because I had no idea, and at the same time, this is the industry that we're in. This is the nature of our industry. So I also understand and, at the same time, had peace with it and was also just really grateful that it was while we were filming still so that I could have my goodbyes."

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

Given that Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke have been core Fire Country cast members since season 1, the CBS action drama will undoubtedly be very different without them. Their characters have had a significant impact on the show and its story. So, Gabriela and Vince's absences will forever change the dynamic of the series. Plus, if one of them dies (most likely Vince after that season 3 finale cliffhanger), Fire Country season 4 will have to spend a lot of time grieving and honoring their characters.