I can remember it like it was yesterday. In April 2025, news broke that two original Fire Country cast members would not be returning for the upcoming fourth season. One of those cast members was Stephanie Arcila. Arcila had been a part of the hit procedural drama since the very beginning, portraying Gabriela Perez, a Cal Fire firefighter and paramedic.
Her and fellow co-star Billy Burke's exits were huge for the CBS drama, given that the show had never lost any of its original seven main cast members in its first three seasons, making their departures a major shake-up. Fans fell in love with Arcila's portrayal of Gabriela and enjoyed watching Gabriela's journey from starting as an Olympic diver to a dedicated Cal Fire firefighter and EMT.
But what they enjoyed even more was Gabriela's on-again, off-again relationship with Bode Leone. Although Gabriela and Bode are not together at the end of the third season, fans were still hoping that eventually the writers would give their relationship a satisfying resolution. But with Arcila’s departure, however, those hopes seemed dashed.
Why did Stephanie Arcila leave Fire Country after season 3?
Though it’s common for actors to step away from a project due to personal, creative, or career-related factors, that wasn’t the reason Arcila left Fire Country. In fact, it wasn't her decision at all. It was a creative decision made by the show's creators. Fire Country co-creator Tony Phelan spoke with Deadline in an April 2025 interview and stated that the decision to write Gabriela out of the series came from the story itself, specifically the relationship between Gabriela and Bode. They felt the characters needed a “reset,” meaning a pause or change in their storyline to allow for future growth.
Phelan emphasized that the decision wasn’t a reflection on Arcila personally, and they are still open to bringing Gabriela back in the future. But for now, they wanted the character to step away and explore “what’s next for her,” giving both the story and the fans a chance to see new directions for Gabriela while keeping the possibility of her return alive.
Arcila also spoke with Deadline in April and revealed that she found out about her departure on the very day Fire Country was renewed for its fourth season. At the time, she was still filming the third season. But instead of being upset or discouraged, Arcila took the news in stride, viewing it as a natural part of her journey as an actor. She described it as a moment of “death and rebirth,” seeing it as the end of one chapter in her career and the start of a new one.
Stephanie Arcila returns as Gabriela in Fire Country season 4
No, you didn't read that wrong! Arcila will be back for Fire Country season 4, just not as a series regular. Instead, she takes on a guest star role to wrap up Gabriela's storyline. Fire Country showrunner Tia Napolitano revealed this in an interview with TVLine from September. She explained that Arcila’s guest appearance in the season 4 premiere is designed to give Gabriela a “surprising” but “earned” exit. Napolitano also stated that the writers created scenes in Gabriela’s exit that fans would really appreciate, particularly those who love her as a character and her romance with Bode.
"We wanted to write some beautiful 'fan candy' for our Gabriela fans, for our 'Bohiela' fans, and really service that character."
In the Fire Country season 3 finale, Gabriela and Audrey are taken hostage by Finn, who has been stalking Gabriela. When Finn notices Gabriela has a gun, he becomes enraged, and a struggle ensues over the weapon. During the chaos, Audrey grabs the gun and shoots Finn in the chest. Gabriela’s father, Manny, arrives and insists they save Finn’s life. Putting her emotions aside, Gabriela relies on her medical training to treat him, stabilizing him until they get him to an ambulance. In the final moments, Gabriela is seen watching the Buena Vista memory care facility go up in flames alongside everyone else.
Spoilers are ahead from the Fire Country season 4 premiere.
In the Fire Country season 4 premiere, we find out that Vince perished in the fire. This is devastating for the entire Station 42 team, especially for Bode. Now Station 42 needs a new Battalion Chief, and Bode and Jake are both ready to prove they have what it takes to lead. Following Vince's funeral, Gabriela tries her best to comfort Bode.
The episode then flashes forward two months, and the Station 42 team is trying their best to move forward while still feeling the weight of Vince’s absence. While sitting on a couch at the station, Bode tells Gabriela how much he appreciates her for being there for him the past two months. She accepts his kind words. Manny enters the room and asks Gabriela to talk with him in the other room.
In this scene, we learn from Manny that Gabriela has a Cal Fire recruitment offer. She'd be touring the country and inspiring firefighters. But that means she'd be leaving Manny, Bode, and everyone else at Station 42. Uh oh! Will she take the offer? She tells Manny later in the episode that even though she's not entirely sure about taking the recruiting job, she's more scared of missing out on a great opportunity. So, it looks like she's leaning more toward accepting the position.
While on what would be Gabriela's last shift with Station 42, Bode overhears her talking to Manny about the job. He's surprised because she hadn’t mentioned anything to him about it. The news catches him off guard, and though he tries to hide his disappointment, it’s clear he’s hurt.
After a successful rescue mission, Gabriela and Bode finally have a heart-to-heart conversation. She explains to him what the new job entails. She then tells Bode that she loves him before giving him his dad's old pin. Instead of simply saying “goodbye,” they tell each other, “goodbye for now.” This leaves things open for a possible reunion down the line. It hints that their story isn’t over just yet, even if they’re heading down separate paths for now. This is the last time we see Gabriela in the Fire Country season 4 premiere.
New episodes of Fire Country season 4 air on CBS every Friday night.