‘Fire Country’ Renewed for Season 5 — But a Major Change Has Fans Already Worried

Fire Country is coming back for Season 5, but there is a big change that fans might not be happy about.

According to a report by Deadline, the hit firefighter drama will not have a full season like before. Instead of the usual 20 episodes, Season 5 will only have 13. This is a noticeable drop and a shift from how the show has been handled since it first started.

The change also means the show will not stay on CBS’s Friday lineup for the entire season. It is expected to leave the schedule earlier than usual, which is different from previous seasons where it ran the full stretch.

CBS has explained that its Friday lineup is still strong and not changing much overall. As Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach said during the schedule reveal, “The CBS Friday night entertainment lineup has been No. 1 for an incredible 16 straight seasons, so we’re sticking with what works, Sheriff Country at 8, Fire Country at 9, and Boston Blue at 10.”

Even with that statement, the reduced episode count shows that things are shifting behind the scenes. One reason is the growing number of shows on CBS. The network is adding new series while keeping most of its current hits, so there is less room for long seasons.

There is also a change happening behind the camera. Eric Guggenheim is stepping in as the new showrunner, replacing Tia Napolitano, who led the show for its first four seasons. That kind of transition can also affect how a season is planned.

Even with these changes, “Fire Country” is still doing well. It has remained a strong performer for CBS and even helped launch new shows like Sheriff Country and Boston Blue, which have both gained attention.

For now, it is not clear what will take over its time slot later in the season. CBS has a few options, including other returning shows or new series that could fill the gap.

Season 5 is still happening, but with fewer episodes and a shorter run, it is definitely going to feel different for fans who are used to getting more from the show each year.

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