EXCLUSIVE: Tia Napolitano is stepping down as showrunner of CBS‘ popular drama series Fire Country after four seasons. She will be leaving at the end of the current season and plans to focus on her own development under the overall deal she has with Fire Country producer CBS Studios. A search for a new showrunner will commence soon.
Napolitano joined Fire Country, created/executive produced by series star Max Thieriot and writers Tony Phelan and Joan Rater, right after the pilot as executive producer and showrunner and has steered the firefighter drama since.
Fire Country got off to a hot start, ranking as the No. 1 most-watched new series for the season it launched in, 2022-2023, and was quickly identified by CBS brass as a show with franchise potential.
Now in its fourth season, Fire Country still regularly wins its Friday time period, averaging 8.1 million Live+35 multi-platform viewers to date. It also helped launch spinoff Sheriff Country, which is on track to repeat Fire Country’s feat of being the most watched new series in its freshman season.
“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,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios President David Stapf said in a joint statement. “We’re grateful for all her contributions and tireless work, and look forward to collaborating with her on future projects.”
Napolitano, whose first TV job was as a writers assistant working for then-Grey’s Anatomy showrunners Phelan and Rater, was approached for the Fire Country showrunner job early on, before the pilot was picked up to series. She has been at the helm as the series navigated the writers strike, the L.A. fires and, most recently, the departure of original cast members Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila at the end of last season.
“I am beyond proud of the past four seasons of Fire Country,” Napolitano said. “All of my gratitude to our cast, crew, writers, producers, fans, and of course CBS and CBS Studios. It’s been a beautiful ride!”
Before joining Fire Country, Napolitano served as executive producer and showrunner on Freeform’s Cruel Summer. Her writing-producing credits also include Grey’s Anatomy and spinoff Station 19.
Fire Country Season 4 returns with new episodes February 27.