CBS has set Friday, October 9, 2026 as the premiere date for Season 5 of “Fire Country,” bringing the show’s fictional setting of Edgewater back to screens just months after a dramatic Season 4 finale.
That finale saw the Pineville Dam collapse and flood Edgewater, with Bode (Max Thieriot) and Jake (Jordan Calloway) teaming up to rescue Danny, Jake and Violet (Nesta Cooper) getting married, and Bode telling Chloe (Alona Tal) that he loved her. Season 5 picks up just a couple of weeks later, as the town gathers for its annual Founders’ Day celebration.
CBS renewed the series for Season 5 in January 2026. The new season will run 13 episodes, shorter than Season 4’s 20-episode order. Behind the scenes, Eric Guggenheim takes over as showrunner, replacing Tia Napolitano, who led the series through its first four seasons.
A new face at Station 42
Olivia Thirlby, known for roles in “Oppenheimer,” “Juno,” “Wonder Man” and “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” joins the cast as the show’s first new series regular since it premiered in 2022. Her casting was first reported by Deadline in June.
Thirlby plays Cecilia Jade “CJ” Ryan, a decorated urban firefighter who arrives in Edgewater after leaving her city station and spending six months on the road. CJ has no experience fighting wildland fires, but Bode believes she could still be an asset to Station 42.
What happens in the premiere
The season opens with Bode still reckoning with the aftermath of the flood and trying to figure out what kind of firefighter he wants to be. Thieriot told TV Insider it’s a “big season for Bode” as he works to find his identity and become someone the community can rely on.
The premiere episode, titled “Founders’ Day,” sends Station 42 into another major emergency when a sinkhole opens beneath Main Street during the festival, trapping several residents. CJ Ryan arrives in Edgewater during the chaos. Thieriot also teased a later storyline he described as “dangerous,” unfolding over multiple episodes.
Where and when to watch
“Fire Country” Season 5 airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, sandwiched between “Sheriff Country” at 8 p.m. and “Boston Blue” at 10 p.m. A two-hour crossover event with “Sheriff Country” is set for Friday, November 6, starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Episodes stream on Paramount+. Premium subscribers can watch live as episodes air, while both Essential and Premium subscribers can stream on demand the following day. Paramount+ Essential costs $8.99 a month with ads; Premium, which includes Showtime titles and live CBS, costs $13.99 a month. A seven-day free trial is currently available for the Premium plan. Seasons 1 through 4 are available on Paramount+, and the first two seasons are also streaming on Netflix.
