There’s a soapy small-town drama taking over the internet—and no, I’m not talking about Virgin River. I’m talking about CBS’s Fire Country, which, according to some fans, is the perfect show to fill the void while waiting for new episodes of the Netflix hit series.
If you’ve yet to watch Fire Country, then you’ve probably seen the intense promos with action-packed sequences and massive flames. And yes, I will admit, at first glance, the rousing and suspenseful series doesn’t feel very similar to the cozy and charming world of Mel and Jack. But all it takes is just a few episodes to notice the parallels.
Currently, the CBS drama is in the middle of a lengthy hiatus. Out of respect for the many victims affected by ongoing fires that have spread across the Los Angeles area, CBS has pushed the next episode’s premiere date to January 31. (P.S., here are seven practical ways you can help wildfire victims.) Until then, here’s a full breakdown of the Fire Country plot, cast and more.
1. What Is the Plot of Fire Country?
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Fire Country revolves around Bode Donovan, a young convict who hopes to turn a new leaf by volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program, where prisoners can help a team of firefighters in exchange for a reduced sentence. However, he gets assigned to his hometown in Northern California, which means he’ll also have to confront his dark past while working alongside his former friends.
Regarding the show’s authenticity, Max Thieriot, the show’s co-creator and star, told Collider, “The biggest thing that I want and hope to achieve with this series is not only to shine the light on firefighters for being the heroes that they are, but also just everything that they go through as humans. It’s important to realize that even though Superman wears a cape, when he takes that cape off, there’s a man underneath it, and it’s important to peel back those layers too. You have to show the good, the bad, and the ugly. I hope to also try to bring awareness to the difficulties that firefighters go through because these people are human.”
2. Who Is in the Cast of Fire Country?
Eric Milner/CBS
Main Cast
Max Thieriot as Bode Leone, an inmate firefighter
Kevin Alejandro as Manny Perez, Gabriela’s father and a Cal Fire firefighter
Jordan Calloway as Jake Crawford, Station 42 Captain, as well as Riley and Gabriela’s ex
Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela Perez, Manny’s daughter, a Cal Fire firefighter and paramedic
Jules Latimer as Eve Edwards, Captain of Three Rock, Bode and Jake’s best friend
Diane Farr as Sharon Leone, Cal Fire Division Chief, Bode and Riley’s mother, Vince’s wife
Billy Burke as Vince Leone, Bode and Riley’s father, Sharon’s husband and Cal Fire Battalion Chief
Recurring Cast
Rafael de la Fuente as Diego Moreno, a Cal Fire paramedic
Leven Rambin as Audrey James, an ex-con
Jared Padalecki as Camden Casey, a SoCal firefighter
3. How Many Seasons & Episodes of Fire Country Are Out?
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
Fire Country has a total of three seasons. Season one, which includes 22 episodes, premiered on October 7, 2022, and season two, which includes 10 episodes, premiered February 16, 2024. The third season, which has a total of nine episodes, premiered on October 18, 2024. CBS has yet to confirm if the series will return for a fourth season.
4. Why Are Virgin River Fans Obsessed with Fire Country?
Although Fire Country mainly focuses on a team of firefighters, there’s good reason Virgin River fans will also love this series. Not only is there a picturesque, small-town setting (both are set in Northern California, FYI), but Fire Country is also filled with compelling and complex characters—including at least one newcomer who moves to the charming town seeking a fresh start. Plus, both series tackle similar themes, like friendship, loss, grief, redemption and, of course, romance.
But don’t just take my word for it. A quick search on Reddit will tell you that several Virgin River fans agree. One fan wrote, “Just started Fire Country and it’s very similarly cheesy and should definitely exist in the same cinematic universe as Virgin River.”
In another Reddit thread, a second fan echoed the same sentiment and said, “I just got into Fire Country and it’s sooooooooooo reminiscent of Virgin River, even some of the actors (well one) [and] the location reminds of Virgin River.”
5. Where to Watch Fire Country
Sergei Bachlakov/CBS
All three seasons of Fire Country are available to stream at CBS.com, Paramount+, Prime Video (with Paramount+) and Apple TV+. Meanwhile, Netflix only offers the first season and Pluto TV, only season three.
