We Wanted Jake To Stick Around on 'Fire Country,' but Not Like This

It's true, folks. With the news that Billy Burke may be leaving Fire Country ahead of Season 4 (alongside Stephanie Arcila, whose departure has been confirmed), the cliffhanger at the end of the Season 3 finale, “I’d Do It Again,” seems pretty bleak.

Before that happened, we were hoping that Jake Crawford (Jordan Calloway) would find a way to stick around Edgewater long-term, or potentially even take over running Station 42. Still, his desire for a promotion (and some other personal factors) pushed the firefighter away — or, so we thought. With the fates of some of our favorite Fire Country cast members up in the air, it seems as if the series is pivoting to keep Jake around. We just didn't realize it would come at such a high cost.

Did 'Fire Country' Just Kill Off Vince Leone After That Season 3 Cliffhanger?

After Vince (Burke) and Sharon (Diane Farr) run into a fire to save Bode (Max Theriot) and Walter (Jeff Fahey), it seems like they're about to be in the clear. In fact, we didn't think twice about the burning building because the Leone clan is nearly out the door — but then the Season 3 finale takes a dark turn. Though Bode gets out, Sharon and Vince turn to find Walter missing, forcing them to go back in and find him. And that's where everything goes to hell. After watching the flames spread throughout the entire episode, "I'd Do It Again" ends with the building collapsing in on itself, with the three Leones still inside as Bode and Jake look on in horror. Though Bode tries to reenter the building to find his parents and grandfather, Jake holds him back. While that was the right call, it may have sealed Vince, Sharon, and Walter's fates.

With the news that Burke may be leaving the show, it seems highly likely that Vince will be killed off here. Sure, there is the possibility (however slight) that Vince could simply be injured and that this rumor about Burke is simply that. After all, Fire Country's producers have confirmed Arcila's exit but refused to do the same regarding Burke. Maybe Vince gets hurt and can no longer fight fires? Maybe he ends up in a coma, and 42 finds itself without a battalion chief in the meantime. There are certainly other possibilities. However, the most likely outcome is that Vince is dead, and if that's the case, then it opens the promotional door for a firefighter like Jake, already a captain, to step in and take charge.

Jake Should Be Station 42's New Fire Chief, but It May Lead to Drama in 'Fire Country' Season 4

In the back half of this season, after losing Gen (Alix West Lefler) to her biological family, Jake had planned to move to Butte County with his girlfriend Violet (Nesta Cooper) to pursue a new captain position. All this occurred after Vince was candid about there being no career ladder for Jake to climb at Station 42, at least with him still around. But now, it seems that Vince's fate may be sealed. Even if Fire Country doesn’t straight up kill Vince, it seems likely that Jake will be the next in line to take over — and frankly, it's about time. Not only would this be a great boost career-wise for the character, but it would keep Jake with the people he loves. Jake has proven himself time and again as a capable captain at Station 42, and even if Manny (Kevin Alejandro) takes over his position at the firehouse, it would be easy for Jake to settle into the role as battalion chief, since Vince has essentially been training him for the job for years.

It's easy to forget, but before Fire Country started and Bode returned to Edgewater, Jake had settled into a routine with Vince, Sharon, and Eve (Jules Latimer) as the four of them effectively became a firehouse family unit. In many ways, Jake had become Vince and Sharon's surrogate son, and it seemed as if he was ready to fully embrace the family business. But when Bode arrived, all of that began to change for Jake, who felt like he was cast to the wayside in favor of their biological son. Still, Jake has more than proven himself over the years, and this promotion would certainly come at the right time. It's hard to say if this is the direction that Fire Country is going to take, but it certainly feels like the natural next step. If we want Jake to stay on Fire Country, then he probably needs to be in Edgewater. Without a promotion like this one, he's likely to move on to Butte and never look back.

Of course, this could spark some added drama between Jake and Bode. If Jake took over for Vince at 42, it may only drive a larger wedge between them, especially after Jake kept the younger Leone from going back into the burning building after his parents. We've seen Jake and Bode duke it out a number of times over the years, but the pair have ultimately always had each other's backs. However, if this is indeed the end of Vince Leone, it would mean that Jake was at the center of not just one of Bode's greatest tragedies, but two of them. For years, Bode had blamed Jake for his sister Riley's (Jade Pettyjohn) death. Depending on how things turn out in Season 4, he may blame Jake for his father's death as well, especially if Bode believes he could have prevented it.

'Fire Country' Is Switching Things Up for Season 4

In many ways, Jake taking charge as Station 42's battalion chief would be the best thing for the character. Again, it would give Jake a reason to stay in Edgewater, but it would also allow for his continued character arc to blossom into what it was always meant to be. Jake Crawford has changed considerably since the first season, and that's in no small part due to his own personal and professional goals. Sure, there are a lot of factors that have gone into his decisions throughout Seasons 2 and 3, but all of them point to him becoming the type of leader that could make Vince Leone proud. The truth is, Bode isn't quite leadership material (at least, not yet). His willingness to throw himself into the fire is admirable, but his general lack of restraint is not becoming of a fire chief. On the other hand, Jake has learned this sort of self-control and uses it to command with competence and strength.

Fire Country has had quite a rollercoaster of a third season, and ending it with the news that Gabriela is being written out and that Vince may be killed off too is, well, it's certainly a way to end things. While that may not be the answer to the Season 3 cliffhanger that we wanted, it at least makes it possible for Jake to carry on in his hometown. Though we have to wait until the fall for any real answers, we'll certainly be theorizing just how Fire Country will continue in Season 4.