Fire Country returned on October 17, 2025, with Season 4, Episode 1, “Goodbye for Now” (43 minutes, TV‑14 V, L). The premiere confirms Battalion Chief Vince Leone’s death and sets Station 42 on a collision course with a new battalion chief, Brett Richards, while Sharon Leone and Bode Leone try to hold the family—and the firehouse—together. New episodes air Fridays at 9/8c on CBS, with next‑day streaming on Paramount+.
What Happens in “Goodbye for Now” (Oct. 17, 2025)
Station 42 is reeling in the aftermath of the Zabel Ridge fire. Vince Leone (Billy Burke) is gone; Sharon Leone (Diane Farr) and Walter Leone (Jeff Fahey) survived. The hour closes on a high‑stakes rescue that forces the team to function despite grief and internal rifts.
The episode title is literal for Gabriela Perez (Stephanie Arcila), who leaves Edgewater to recruit young firefighters for Cal Fire after supporting Bode through the funeral period. Executive producer Tia Napolitano frames the farewell this way: “It’s goodbye for now, not goodbye forever,” adding that the send‑off is a “success story” for a character who “made herself into” a firefighter.
Why Vince Is Gone — and What It Means for Billy Burke
The premiere makes the in‑story reason unmistakable: Vince dies in the fire, and the funeral confirms it. Off‑screen, Diane Farr writes that the cast didn’t know who would emerge from the Season 3 blaze. “We spent the whole summer, and then it was Billy who told us he was let go,” she says, describing the real‑life shock that informed Sharon’s grief on screen. Farr also explains the creative choice to explore multiple stages of mourning—“We wanted to see her angry and see her bartering with God”—and notes how the funeral details mirror real firefighter traditions, “down to where the flag is hung and the bagpipes, because I’m Irish.”
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Meet Brett Richards (Shawn Hatosy), Station 42’s New Battalion Chief
Season 4 introduces Brett Richards, a hard‑driving outsider whose mandate is to change the way 42 runs. Napolitano says bringing in an antagonist “felt like it gave us so much more story,” praising the casting—“We were lucky enough to get Shawn Hatosy.” Expect a recurring presence: “You’ll see him a lot. He will recur.”
Resistance inside 42 is part of the point. “Not well,” Napolitano says of the crew’s reaction. “Vince made 42 a family… even their coffee is called Leone mud. Vince is in every molecule of that building.” Richards “will really hold a mirror up to 42 and ask, are these the best practices?” The result is friction with both Sharon and Bode, and shifting alliances as some “start to see his way to varying degrees.”
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Bode, Sharon, and Luke: Grief, Pills, and Who Holds the Family Together
With Gabriela leaving and Richards arriving, Bode Leone (Max Thieriot) faces a season‑long test. The premiere ends with a temptation: “You see him grab those pills at the end, and we will struggle with those pills in the first few episodes,” Napolitano says. Knee pain and a new boss raise the stakes; recovery remains “a process.”
Sharon initially refuses help—then “our people will pull her in,” Napolitano adds. Luke Leone (Michael Trucco) delivers one of the episode’s most affecting moments at the funeral. Napolitano singles it out: “Michael Trucco breaks your heart in that funeral scene… He will really kick into high gear some professional aspirations of Bode as we get deeper into the season.”
Gabriela’s Exit and “Bodiela” Status
Gabriela tells Bode she still loves him. That matters, but it doesn’t erase the choice to leave Edgewater for a bigger mission with Cal Fire. Napolitano underlines the balance: the goodbye honors “who they are to each other,” yet “it isn’t Bodiela’s season right now” because Bode will pursue Audrey James (Leven Rambin) “with an open heart.”
Jake, Eve, Manny, Walter — and the State of Three Rock
- Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway): “Never forget that Vince was like a father to Jake and to Eve,” Napolitano says. Jake “handles it with grace while sticking up for himself.”
- Eve Edwards (Jules Latimer): She will “pursue [fire camp] relentlessly.” The show is bringing it back as “Three Rock 2.0,” with “some new faces.”
- Manny Perez (Kevin Alejandro): “Manny is going to rise this season… he’ll really excel,” and he “steps up” for Bode.
- Walter Leone (Jeff Fahey): “We will see Walter,” with “heartbreaking” scenes for Walter and Sharon as the family regroups.
Full Cast and Characters Mentioned in the Premiere Coverage
- Max Thieriot — Bode Leone
- Billy Burke — Vince Leone
- Diane Farr — Sharon Leone
- Shawn Hatosy — Brett Richards
- Stephanie Arcila — Gabriela Perez
- Leven Rambin — Audrey James
- Michael Trucco — Luke Leone
- Jeff Fahey — Walter Leone
- Kevin Alejandro — Manny Perez
- Jordan Calloway — Jake Crawford
- Jules Latimer — Eve Edwards
Where to Watch Fire Country Season 4
The Season 4 premiere “Goodbye for Now” (S4E1) is listed at 43 minutes (TV‑14 V, L) and premiered on October 17, 2025. New episodes air Fridays at 9/8c on CBS with next‑day streaming on Paramount+.
How Vince’s Death Re‑Centers the Show
Vince’s death echoes Season 1’s original wound (Riley) and resets the ensemble’s arcs. Sharon’s solo leadership track, Bode’s recovery battle under a stricter command, and a probationary culture audit under Brett Richards all converge on the same question: can a family‑first firehouse adapt without losing its soul? Napolitano hints that some will “embrace” the change while others “cling to the way things were,” which sets a season‑long test for Station 42’s identity.
What’s Next (Dates/Details)
- Regular time‑slot return: Fridays at 9/8c on CBS.
- Two‑part universe crossover with Sheriff Country is on the way, with “smaller crossovers” also planned to make it feel like “one big universe.”
- Expect “Three Rock 2.0,” more of Luke, and evolving dynamics among Bode, Jake, Sharon, Manny, and Audrey as Richards pressures 42.
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