Season 5 of Fire Country is introducing some changes — including a surprise pregnancy.
In the Thursday, September 3 official season 5 trailer of the hit CBS show, Jake (Jordan Calloway) prepares for the possibility of fatherhood. He previously got married in the season 4 finale after experiencing a slew of major ups and downs in his personal life.
The first look also offered a glimpse at several new characters. It was previously announced that Olivia Thirlby will be joining season 5 as a new firefighter, CJ. The new addition is described as “a quick-witted, fiercely independent, blue-collar, decorated urban firefighter who bolted her station house and city for mysterious reasons.”
“After six months on the road, trying to outrun whatever happened, and herself, fate strands her in Edgewater where she crosses paths with Bode,” a character description continued. “Despite having no experience fighting woodland fires, Bode believes CJ has something to offer Station 42. And despite the serious culture shock, this fish out of water comes to believe rural Edgewater has something to offer her.”
Before Thirlby, 39, Fire Country maintained its original cast lineup for three seasons and until Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila parted ways with the show. New series regulars were not added to the show until now, with Thirlby joining OG cast members Max Thieriot, Kevin Alejandro, Calloway, Jules Latimer and Diane Farr.
Fire Country, which premiered in 2022, follows inmate Bode (Thieriot) as he attempts to shorten his prison sentence by volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program. By the third season, Bode is out of prison and determined to prove himself at Cal Fire.
The hit series previously went through a shakeup when news broke in April 2025 that budget cuts led to Burke and Arcila being written off. Showrunner Tia Napolitano defended the decision at the time.
“It’s a fire show. Anyone can go at any time,” she told Us in October 2025. “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.”
Napolitano has since exited the show and won’t be returning for season 5. Instead, Eric Guggenheim has taken over as the new showrunner for the show.
“We’ve done so many episodes and I have so much respect for Tia. What she’s done with the show to get us to this point [is so important]. Eric is new to me, and new to a lot of us and he has his own ideas and he’s very collaborative,” Thieriot told Us in May. “Having new voices is fun, right? Because you get new ideas, new thoughts and new perspectives. It allows us to also stand back and hear different perspectives on things.”
Thieriot promised “new possibilities” for the show.
“Eric really brings in a lot of experience with all of his previous work and the shows that he’s been involved with. At the same time, he knows what the show is and respects what’s been built,” he continued. “He’s not trying to totally change what this series is. He’s just bringing in a fresh take and fresh look and fresh perspective. It’s helping explore new avenues for the characters.”
Fire Country returns to CBS Friday, October 9, at 9 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Paramount+.
