"I Wasn’t a Part of the Conversation": 'Fire Country's Max Thieriot Addresses Fans' Concerns About the Bella Vista Fire

Shows about the inner workings of firehouses have become common. With some like Chicago Fire having been on the air for over a decade, viewers can almost predict what will happen in many fire rescues.

Fans have become aware of protocols and why they are in place, since they affect the narrative's direction. Potential consequences for breaking protocol could see someone booted from their firehouse. That's why procedures and actions in CBS' Fire Country have invited criticism since the show's inception. From too much soapiness in the middle of rescues to questionable grooming for some characters, there hasn't been a shortage of things that don't add up. Case in point was during the two-hour Season 3 finale, which saw the characters battle a huge fire at Walter's (Jeff Fahey) care facility, Bella Vista.

Everyone seemed to avoid safety measures meant to keep them safe as they entered a burning building without any masks or oxygen tanks. Series star, executive producer, and co-creator Max Thieriot addressed this question when TV Line caught up with him. To have Sharon (Diane Farr) and Vince (Billy Burke) enter the building without self-contained breathing apparatus "was a creative choice, to see the characters’ faces," he said, noting that masks are also "difficult to wear" when filming a scene. "In the chaos of the moment, knowing that [Walter and Bode] were inside, it was like, ‘Grab them now and get them out!'” Thieriot explained how Sharon and Vince's rationale might have gone out the window with their loved ones in trouble. However, all this was the actor's understanding of the situation. He explained:

"I wasn’t a part of the conversation about that specific choice in that moment."

The Bella Vista Fire Might Have Devastating Consequences in 'Fire Country' Season 4

The season ended on a cliffhanger as the fire ravaged the building, with Walter and Vince stuck inside. News reports about the season hint at a departure as Burke leaves the series. Speculative analysis hints that Vince might die in the fire, and given how exposed he was, that seems even more plausible. However, the show's team won't confirm or deny his fate, so viewers will have to tune in to the show when it resumes this fall. CBS has revealed that Fire Country will continue airing on Fridays alongside the new spin-off, Sheriff Country, and Blue Bloods spin-off, Boston Blue.