A huge CBS show has been left in limbo after one of its major cast members announced their departure over the weekend.

FIRE COUNTRY

Fire Country is up in the air after a major member exited (Image: CBS via Getty Images)

 

Over the weekend, Tia Napolitano, the CBS series’ showrunner for its first four seasons, departed the show after joining right after its pilot in 2022.

Her decision to step down comes amid a slew of other exits the show is facing, including those of Stephanie Arcila and Billy Bourke, who starred as Gabriela and Vince.

 

In a statement announcing her exit, Tia shared, “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!”

CBS, which airs Fire Country, also released its own statement, via CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf, who said in a joint statement with TVLine, “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.”

Tia Napolitano

Tia Napolitano has announced her exit (Image: Penske Media via Getty Images)

“We’re grateful for all her contributions and tireless work, and look forward to collaborating with her on future projects,” they added.

Various outlets have since reported that the search for a replacement for Tia is ongoing. Tia’s exit comes a few months after she stood by the ending of Stephanie and Billy’s characters.

Gabriela chose to leave Edgewater, while Billy died in the April 2025 season finale, and it was later revealed that their exits were due to budget cuts.

“It’s a fire show. Anyone can go at any time,” she expressed to Us Weekly at the time, noting, “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,” she stressed.

Elsewhere in the interview, she teased how they would be “spicing up the season, while honoring the characters that have left the series.

“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 shared, adding, “Looking forward, the theme of the season is rising from the ashes and recovery.”

“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,” she concluded.