Fire Country showrunner Tia Napolitano hinted that the show's story will be going through some changes just before news broke about her exit. "[You should] be worried [about the rest of the season]. 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," Napolitano exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2025, one month before her departure from the CBS series. "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." Napolitano teased that "those are not easy things to come back" from, adding, "We'll watch our people fight to get out of there." She also revealed there is a "huge twist" coming in the midseason premiere, which airs on February 27. "It's going to change everything that hugely impacts Bode. He is going to really fight to continue to be on his path to progress and growth that we love to see him on. He has made those good choices - though he still struggles - and winning those struggles and really becoming someone who can continue to be someone Tyler wants to grow up to be," she said. "Bode is a role model. Look how far we have come." Which 'Fire Country' Stars Are and Aren't Returning for Season 4 After Exits She continued: "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." Before Fire Country returned for the second half of season 4, it was confirmed that Napolitano won't be coming back if the show is renewed. Multiple outlets, including Deadline, reported that a replacement for Napolitano hasn't been found after she originally became a showrunner when Fire Country premiered on CBS in 2022. "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," CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios president David Stapf said in a joint statement on Friday, January 16. "We're grateful for all her contributions and tireless work, and look forward to collaborating with her on future projects." Napolitano released her own statement, which read, "I am beyond proud of the past four seasons of Fire Country. All of my gratitude to our cast, crew, writers, producers, fans and of course CBS and CBS Studios. It's been a beautiful ride!" Napolitano's exit comes after Fire Country went through multiple shocking shakeups. In April 2025, Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila were written off the show amid alleged budget cuts. The executive producer, for her part, defended the decision, which she said was needed for the story. CBS Cancels 2 Planned Spinoff Shows - But Which Could Still Premiere? "It's a fire show. Anyone can go at any time," Napolitano 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 teased how the show will have to balance "really spicing it up" with two main characters leaving - one in an offscreen death and another alive but no longer living in Edgewood. "What we've done is really thread the needle of honoring - especially Vince - because Gabriella is gone, but she's gone to a happy and successful life. She's still out there. But we really walk this line of honoring Vince while also finding hope rather quickly," she noted. "Looking forward, the theme of the season is rising from the ashes and recovery." Napolitano continued: "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." Fire Country returns to CBS on Friday, February 27, at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes will be streaming the next day on Paramount+.