Fire Country Season 5 Adds Olivia Thirlby as a Series Regular
There’s a new firefighter joining Station 42 for Fire Country Season 5.
Deadline exclusively reports that Olivia Thirlby will join the drama series as a firefighter named Cecilia Jade “CJ” Ryan.
The character is described as ” a quick-witted, fiercely independent, blue-collar, decorated urban firefighter who bolted her station house and city for mysterious reasons,” per the official character synopsis, via TV Line.
“After six months on the road, trying to outrun whatever happened, and herself, fate strands her in Edgewater where she crosses paths with Bode. Despite having no experience fighting woodland fires, Bode believes CJ has something to offer Station 42. And despite the serious culture shock, this fish out of water comes to believe rural Edgewater has something to offer her.”
Notably, Thirlby is the first new cast member to join Fire Country as a series regular after the Season 3 exits of Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila. For example, The Pitt‘s Shawn Hatosy has a guest-starring role as Battalion Chief Brett Richards on Fire Country Season 4.
Thirlby joins the returning series regulars, including executive producer Max Thieriot, Kevin Alejandro, Jordan Calloway, Jules Latimer, and Diane Farr.
This news also comes after a few different changes for the show earlier this year.
As previously reported, CBS renewed Fire Country for its fifth season in January 2026. In March, Deadline exclusively reported that Eric Guggenheim would join the series as an executive producer and the showrunner. For the latter, Guggenheim succeeds Tia Napolitano, who left the series after Fire Country Season 4 Episode 20, “Try Not to Drown.”
By May, Deadline, again, exclusively reported that Fire Country‘s fifth season would have a significantly shorter season — 13 episodes, down from 20.
So, some things will certainly look familiar when the firefighting drama returns, but there will also be changes for fans to expect. One thing that’s staying the same is Fire Country‘s spot in the network’s primetime schedule. It will air on Friday nights at 9/8c, following its spinoff series, Sheriff Country, at 8/7c on CBS.
Sheriff Country received an early renewal alongside Boston Blue, another freshman spinoff series, in December 2025.
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Fire Country airs Fridays at 9/8c on CBS.
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Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.