Fire Country Season 5 Premiere Set for October 9
CBS announces the return date for the popular firefighting drama, along with new cast additions and plot details.
The CBS drama Fire Country is set to return for its fifth season on Friday, October 9, 2026. The new season will pick up a few weeks after the dramatic Season 4 finale, which saw the Pineville Dam collapse and cause widespread flooding in Edgewater. Bode (Max Thieriot) and Jake (Jordan Calloway) worked together to rescue Danny, Jake and Violet (Nesta Cooper) were married, and Bode confessed his love to Chloe (Alona Tal).
Season 5 will premiere with an episode titled "Founders’ Day," centering on Edgewater's annual celebration, which is disrupted by a sinkhole opening beneath Main Street during the festival. This event will trap several residents and thrust Station 42 into another major rescue operation. The premiere will also introduce a new character, Cecilia Jade “CJ” Ryan, played by Olivia Thirlby. Ryan is a decorated urban firefighter who arrives in Edgewater after a six-month period on the road, bringing her expertise to Station 42 despite a lack of wildland firefighting experience.
CBS renewed Fire Country for its fifth season in January 2026. The upcoming season will feature 13 episodes, a reduction from Season 4's 20-episode run. Eric Guggenheim will take over as showrunner for Season 5, succeeding Tia Napolitano, who held the role for the first four seasons. Olivia Thirlby joins the cast as the first new series regular since the show's 2022 premiere. Thirlby is known for her roles in Oppenheimer, Juno, Wonder Man, and Law & Order: Organized Crime.
The show will maintain its 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday-night time slot on CBS, airing after Sheriff Country and before Boston Blue. A two-hour crossover event featuring both Fire Country and Sheriff Country is scheduled for Friday, November 6.
Viewers can stream new episodes live on Paramount+ Premium or on demand the following day for subscribers of either the Essential or Premium plans. Seasons 1 through 4 are currently available for catch-up on Paramount+. The first two seasons are also available on Netflix.
Max Thieriot, who plays Bode, described Season 5 as a "big season" for his character as Bode navigates his identity and strives to become a reliable figure in the community. He also teased a multi-episode, "dangerous" storyline later in the season that will focus heavily on character development.