It’s no secret that Fire Country season 4 is going to be a transitional season for CBS’s firefighter drama.
Before the season 3 finale had even aired, word broke that original stars Stephanie Arcila (Gabriela Perez) and Billy Burke (Vince Leone) would be exiting the show ahead of season 4. While we’re waiting to see how exactly the show writes out Gabriela, it’s apparent that Vince is going to meet an untimely demise and perish in the line of duty.
In the season 3 finale, Vince, Sharon, and Walter were trapped in a retirement home fire as the roof collapsed. Given the news of Burke’s exit, it’s anticipated that Vince will not survive the roof collapse and become the show’s biggest death yet.
While we’ll have to see exactly how Burke’s send-off unfolds and whether he returned in any capacity within the season 4 premiere, the name of his replacement has officially dropped – and it’s definitely unexpected.
As confirmed via new photos and the episode synopsis for Fire Country season 4, episode 2, CBS has tapped Emmy-winner Shawn Hatosy as Vince’s replacement at Station 42. Hot off an Emmy-winning run on The Pitt and a one-season guest arc on Chicago PD, Hatosy will suit up on Fire Country as Battalion Chief Brett Richards, the new battalion chief at Station 42.
Fans get a glimpse into Hatosy’s debut via the below photos from the episode, “Not a Stray,” in which we see Chief Richards on the job alongside Cal Fire Division Chief Sharon Leone amid an active call.
A second photo again shows Chief Richards in his element directing his team while responding to a high-stakes wildfire that tests Station 42’s unity and resilience.
Outside of the character’s name, little is known about Chief Richards outside of the fact that he’s set to have a polarizing leadership style that will be getting under the skin of Station 42’s members. It likely does not help in any way that he’s been brought in to replace such a beloved member of the firehouse, with the team likely to feel resentment toward him simply because of the circumstances of his arrival.
Interestingly, CBS is describing the appearance as a guest starring role, hinting that perhaps Chief Richards will not be the permanent replacement for Vince. However, this is certainly a role that could entail a multi-episode guest stint, so we could see Chief Richards sticking around for a few episodes early in the season!
Don’t miss the Fire Country season 4 premiere on Friday, October 17, and be sure to catch Shawn Hatosy’s Fire Country debut the following week on Friday, October 24!