Shawn Hatosy Makes His Fire Country Debut as Roving Cal Fire Station Fixer

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The show offers a glimpse of what Shawn Hatosy will bring to his new role. He’s joining the cast starting with Season 4, after a major character left the series.

Following the announcement of Taylor Kinney’s return to the show, fans are now getting a first look at Brett Richards, the new battalion chief joining Cal Fire. According to US Weekly, Hatosy’s character will be complex – a strict rule-follower with an unpredictable side. The official description reveals Richards’ strong leadership style will likely cause friction, but he’s determined to guide Bode and the 42 crew, vowing to prevent any further firefighter deaths.

As a big fan of *Fire Country*, I’m still trying to figure out if Cole Hauser’s character is going to fully take over for Billy Burke’s. It sounds like his role will be as someone who travels around helping Cal Fire stations, which makes sense considering how Season 3 ended. I first heard rumors about Cole joining back on September 2nd, and then photos from the set started popping up online on September 24th. But the real surprise came with the first trailer for Season 4 on September 26th – it definitely got fans talking!

Brett Richards Is Cal Fire Station 42’s New Battalion Chief

Look, I was really surprised by Hatosy’s character coming back – Burke was always a fan favorite, and it’s fascinating to see him reappear. At first glance, he and the others seem totally different, but it quickly becomes clear there’s a lot going on under the surface. It’s not just about fire for this guy; he’s incredibly smart – two master’s degrees, and his real gift is understanding *people*. But even with all that calculated coolness, you get the sense he’s carrying some serious baggage himself, that he’s dealt with loss, and it’s shaped who he is.

The show *Fire Country* highlights Max Thieriot as the determined leader Cal Fire requires, someone who pushes firefighters to their limits to rebuild them stronger. Billy Hatosy is a great fit for this challenging role, as he’s previously portrayed focused and intense characters in shows like *Reckless*, *Chicago P.D.*, and *The Pitt*. However, his most memorable performance is likely as the unpredictable and often volatile Andrew “Pope” Cody from *Animal Kingdom*.

Max Thieriot’s new role in *Fire Country* follows the exits of former stars Morena Barksin and Stephanie Arcilla. Arcilla’s departure was revealed soon after the season 3 finale, and while her character’s storyline involving a romance with Thieriot will be concluded in season 4, Burke has not yet commented on why he’s leaving the show.

Joan Rater, the creator of *Fire Country*, explained that James Holden’s character will be a turning point for the show. She shared that they were thrilled to cast him, and that his character is designed to arrive at stations facing difficulties – like Station 42 after the fire and Vince’s death – to assess the issues and help them rebuild and improve.

Fire Country Season 4 premieres Oct. 17 on CBS.

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2025-10-07 15:06