Fire Country Star Stephanie Arcila Addresses Her Surprising Exit & What Comes Next

Fire Country season 3 wrapped up on April 25 with the CBS drama already renewed for a fourth season. However, the upcoming installments will feature a major cast shake-up. Deadline reported that both Stephanie Arcila, who plays Gabriela Perez, and Billy Burke, who plays Chief Vince Leone, would be exiting as series regulars. While the finale left Vince's life up in the air, Gabriela will likely choose to leave Edgewater behind following the show's recent events.

Arcila has been featured in 52 episodes of the series, and there's no doubt her absence will be felt when it returns for the 2025–2026 broadcast season. Outside of Fire Country, the actor is known for her work on Don't Breathe 2, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and Here and Now. She can also be seen in projects such as The Rookie, 9 Bullets, and Jenni Rivera: Mariposa de Barrio.

I chatted with Stephanie Arcila about her departure after three seasons of Fire Country, Gabriela's future and relationship with Bode, and what projects she hopes to do next.

Arcila Found Out She Was Leaving Fire Country When The Show Was Renewed

"I was in shock because I had no idea, and at the same time, this is the industry that we're in."

ScreenRant: I was disappointed to hear you wouldn't be a series regular in Fire Country anymore. I read that you heard the news as soon as season 4 got renewed.

Stephanie Arcila: I did, I did.

What was your initial reaction?

Stephanie Arcila: I think I was in shock because I had no idea, and at the same time, this is the industry that we're in. This is the nature of our industry. So I also understand and at the same time had peace with it and was also just really grateful that it was while we were filming still so that I could have my goodbyes.

Character-wise, how do you feel about Gabriela's departure? She's been through quite a bit this season. Do you think it's a good move for her to take some time away from everything?

Stephanie Arcila: The writers know what they're doing and there are things that personally I would've loved. I would've loved to see her grow into her blooming season and all of that stuff, but I'm sure all of that comes with time as well. And sometimes we do need breaks, and we do need time to be on our own away from maybe the people that trigger us.

I also read that you could have a guest star or recurring role down the line. Do you know if you'll be appearing in season 4 at all, or if you'll be at least in the premiere?

Stephanie Arcila: I have no idea.

Gabriela And Bode Will Always Have Love For Each Other

"It is healthy to explore other avenues as well and explore yourself."

Gabriela's story with Bode doesn't feel quite finished yet. Given how complicated it is, do you feel that it's one of those, "It shouldn't be this hard," situations or do you think that they really are meant to be together?

Stephanie Arcila: I think that they'll always have love for each other. It is healthy to not rush into things. It is healthy to explore other avenues as well and explore yourself. They've had so many changes and shifts in their lives that they already have to navigate, and I think in finding themselves and knowing who they are in these new dynamics and having that breather is also a good thing.

Season 3 gave Gabriela the chance to overcome so many different obstacles. What has been your favorite part of her journey?

Stephanie Arcila: There are many because she's so dear to my heart. There's a worthiness within yourself and a release in control within yourself when you see one of the people that you love dating someone else and still can be respectful and have that love for them and understand that what is meant for you will be meant for you no matter what. And at the end of the day, I feel that the world is always working out.

Things are always working out in your best interest, even if you don't see it in the moment. I think part of that journey is her healing. And her reconciliation with her dad. That has been the most heartwarming part for me. To watch them fall, to watch their egos get hurt, but then at the end of the day, put it all aside and know that they love each other so much and that they are all they have.

Gabriela's first example of a love in a man is her father. He raised her, and he raised her to know that we are imperfect, and it is okay to not be perfect. It is okay to fall. What matters is how we get up and how we respond and how we care for our community and the people that we love, but especially how we care for ourselves.

Adding onto that, and to what you were saying earlier, I love how there was potential for a love triangle, but Fire Country went a different route with it. Were you expecting the friendship between Gabriela and Audrey?

Stephanie Arcila: I wasn't, and I think it was great to see. Gabriela is always with all the men. She's surrounded by her father, her co-workers, and all of her scenes are with the guys. So to have another female there and have that energy there, I think, was needed.

And at the same time, no matter what, they're at work, and Gabriela is professional to a T no matter where she goes if it has to do with work. There are some stuff where she is misguided, but all of her intentions are always just to help someone. Those mistakes that she's had within her job have always been based on her moral compass.

Arcila Hopes To Do More Character Work In The Future

"Gabriela is the closest thing that looks like me in my career, usually."

When Gabriela hopefully returns, what would you like to see next in her journey? Is there a storyline that you've been wanting to explore for her that the show just hasn't touched on yet?

Stephanie Arcila: They've touched on so many aspects of trauma that all of these characters have gone through. I'd love to see them maybe go to therapy, find some help, find a community, a support group outside of their own people that are around them, explore the aspects of mental health. And I would love to see Gabriela in her full bloom, coming back into that light of joy that she had before all of this.

Are there any genres that you would like to explore more?

Stephanie Arcila: Yeah, before Fire Country, I started doing a lot of film. I would love to do film again. I would love to also explore character work, which is what I was doing before. Gabriela is the closest thing that looks like me in my career, usually.

So it was an experience to watch sometimes because I'm like, "That looks like me, and usually it doesn't." I also love anime. I would love to be a part of an anime. Theater is my first love. So many things. I'd love to develop my own stuff, which I'm in the process of. I just want to continue evolving and learning.

Is there another show that's currently on TV that you'd like to guest star in? I saw that you did an episode of The Rookie.

Stephanie Arcila: I was on an episode of The Rookie. Right now, it's more so the people I would love to work with. There are just so many incredible actors out there. Now that I've had a break, I've had the time to catch up on some shows of people's work that I admire.

And I think it would be more so the people I would love to work with. But Sterling K. Brown is so incredible in Paradise. I love the show, The Bear, I love Pantheon, also, which is an anime. There's so many different artists and creatives and directors and cinematographers that are so talented that I would absolutely love to be a part of creating with them.