Fire Country Showrunner Tia Napolitano Steps Down

CBS’s hit firefighter drama Fire Country is gearing up for a significant shift behind the scenes as showrunner Tia Napolitano prepares to step down at the end of the current fourth season. The announcement, made on January 17, 2026, sent ripples through the television industry, especially among the show’s devoted fanbase and those tracking the ever-expanding universe of CBS dramas.

Napolitano’s departure marks the end of a defining era for Fire Country. She joined the series right after the pilot, stepping in as executive producer and showrunner, and has since guided the show through its meteoric rise, its challenges, and its transformation into a cornerstone of CBS’s primetime lineup. According to Deadline, Napolitano’s decision to leave is driven by a desire to focus on her own creative development under her overall deal with CBS Studios, the very studio that produces Fire Country. There’s no word yet on who will take the reins next, but CBS has confirmed that a search for a new showrunner is already underway.

In a joint statement, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf praised Napolitano’s pivotal role in shaping the series. “Tia has been instrumental in helping both build and steer Fire Country, which not only became a top series, but is also the foundation of a growing universe,” they said. “We’re grateful for all her contributions and tireless work, and look forward to collaborating with her on future projects.”

Napolitano herself reflected on her time at the helm with evident pride and gratitude. “I am beyond proud of the past four seasons of Fire Country,” she said in a statement quoted by TheWrap and TVLine. “All of my gratitude to our cast, crew, writers, producers, fans, and of course CBS and CBS Studios. It’s been a beautiful ride!”

Since its debut in the 2022-2023 television season, Fire Country has been a standout performer for CBS. The show launched as the number one most-watched new series of its season, a rare feat in the crowded world of network television. CBS executives quickly recognized its franchise potential, and the series has continued to deliver, regularly winning its Friday night slot. As of Season 4, the show boasts an impressive average of 8.1 million Live+35 multi-platform viewers—a testament to its enduring appeal and the loyalty of its audience, as reported by Deadline and TVLine.

What’s more, Fire Country has already proven itself as a franchise-launcher. The spinoff series Sheriff Country—which owes its existence to the success of the original—has quickly established itself as a frontrunner, on track to become the most-watched new series in its freshman season, according to both Deadline and The Economic Times.

Napolitano’s stewardship of the show hasn’t been without its challenges. She led Fire Country through the turbulence of the writers’ strike, navigated the logistical and narrative complications posed by real-life wildfires in Los Angeles, and managed the high-profile exits of original cast members Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila at the end of Season 3. Through it all, she maintained the show’s momentum and kept its storytelling sharp and resonant.

The heart of Fire Country is its lead character, Bode, played by series co-creator Max Thieriot. Bode’s story—beginning as a convict who volunteers to become a firefighter in order to reduce his sentence and evolving into a full-fledged Cal Fire firefighter in his hometown of Edgewater—has struck a chord with viewers. The supporting cast, including Kevin Alejandro, Diane Farr, Jordan Calloway, and Jules Latimer, has helped create a rich ensemble dynamic that keeps fans coming back week after week.

As the show heads into the back half of its fourth season, anticipation is running high. Season 4 is set to return with new episodes on February 27, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, with episodes streaming the next day on Paramount+. Napolitano, ever the showrunner who loves a good twist, has teased that the midseason premiere will be particularly dramatic. In an interview with Us Weekly in December 2025, she warned, “[You should] be worried. We’ve got Bode and Tyler in a fire shelter in the middle of a blaze. Those things are built for one, there’s two lives in there.” She added, “And we’ve got Jake and his brother over the side of a cliff. You see how many times that vehicle goes over and over. We see heads hit hard surfaces.”

But the drama doesn’t end with the action. Napolitano hinted at a “huge twist” that will “change everything” for Bode, challenging him to fight for his path to progress and growth. “Bode is a role model. Look how far we have come,” she said. She also previewed evolving storylines for other characters: “Eve is going to find her way with these new guys at Three Roc. Sharon is learning even more so how to stand on her own. Ruby—her mother—comes back. There’s a lot of surprises, twists and turns, and drive coming out of that twist that comes at the end of the midseason premiere.”

The show hasn’t been immune to controversy. The end of Season 3 left fans reeling after a cliffhanger that saw Vince and Sharon’s lives hanging in the balance. News broke shortly after the finale that budget cuts had led to the departures of Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila, sparking debate over the show’s future direction. Napolitano addressed the changes candidly, telling Us Weekly, “It’s a fire show. Anyone can go at any time. But in terms of losing people, we’re also adding some 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 and turns.”

Looking ahead, Napolitano described the overarching theme of the season as “rising from the ashes and recovery.” She explained, “How do you recover from something like this? And we’re really going to see everybody rise to the occasion, in celebration of Vince, of his life and in honoring the sacrifice that he made.”

While the show’s creators—Max Thieriot, Tony Phelan, and Joan Rater—will remain involved, the search for a new showrunner is likely to shape the next chapter of Fire Country. For now, fans can look forward to more high-stakes action, character-driven drama, and the kind of twists that have made the series a Friday night staple. One thing’s for sure: Tia Napolitano’s legacy will loom large as Fire Country continues to blaze its own trail on CBS.