Editor’s note: The following recap includes significant spoilers for Fire Country Season 3 Episode 19.

Fire Country ramps up the tension in the Season 3 finale by presenting a heartfelt farewell breakfast at Station 42 for Jake (Jordan Calloway). Although his new position is supposedly just a few counties away, the breakfast hints that he will be several hours distant. This revelation casts doubt on Jake’s future involvement in the upcoming season’s incidents, leaving fans frustrated at the potential loss of one of the most beloved characters on the show. It’s disheartening to think we might be bidding farewell to such a pivotal character.

Meanwhile, Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) can only enjoy her temporary win of claiming Jake’s locker until Manny (Kevin Alejandro) finds Finn (Blake Lee) lurking around the station. Manny immediately sets off to ensure that the authorities apprehend his daughter’s stalker. However, Finn’s unexpected appearance outside the station raises serious concerns for Gabs’ safety, both at work and at home. Unfortunately, the situation escalates quickly when the search for Finn leads to a perilous fire that demands immediate action from our dedicated first responders.

Finn Ignites a Dangerous Gas Station Fire in ‘Fire Country’ Season 3 Episode 19

Manny contacts Bode (Max Thieriot) as he follows Finn out of the Station 42 parking lot. Bode manages to catch up with Finn at a secluded gas station while en route to visit Walter (Jeff Fahey). They promptly alert the police about Finn’s new whereabouts, but the stalker notices Bode observing him and makes a hasty escape — taking a fuel tank with him, running over a gas station attendant, and toppling the gas station sign, which ignites sparks that land on the leaking gasoline. In a matter of seconds, what began as a simple surveillance operation escalates into a catastrophic event that requires multiple fire engines to respond.

The first engine on the scene is Three Rock, but due to the lack of an emergency water supply, the team is frantically trying to devise a plan to extinguish the fire before it engulfs the fuel tanks. Inside the gas station store, there’s a fire suppression system, but a teenage girl, Inez, is trapped inside. The raging flames obstruct access to both her and the emergency switch that could save their lives. Compounding the crisis, Eve (Jules Latimer) discovers a cage of propane tanks dangerously close to the spreading fire. Manny devises a clever strategy to move the cage away from the building by using the girl’s Jeep parked outside. As the fire spreads rapidly, Manny’s crew yells for him to halt, but he realizes that if he doesn’t pull the cage further away, the propane tanks will inevitably explode, taking the building down with Inez still trapped inside. He floors the gas pedal, managing to drag the cage a few extra feet away from the structure just before the tanks explode in a massive fireball.

Fortunately, Station 42 arrives just in the nick of time, equipped with tank water that helps to subdue the flames from the explosive fireball. Once it’s confirmed that Manny has emerged from the ordeal relatively unscathed, Jake directs water onto the remaining flames, creating just enough space for Bode to break a window and gain entry into the gas station store. He successfully activates the fire suppression system and rescues Inez, but also twists his knee in the process, which prompts Vince to bench him for the remainder of the day.

Gabriela Faces an Urgent Situation in ‘Fire Country’ Season 3 Episode 19

Gabriela is instructed to take cover at the Leone residence once Finn is spotted outside the station. Sharon wisely anticipates that Gabs might spiral into panic if left alone, so she sends Audrey (Leven Rambin) to provide support. When Audrey enters, Gabs nearly fires a shot in surprise, but after the initial scare, she finds comfort in having a friend to share Oreos with as they anxiously await news about Finn’s arrest. Their anxiety spikes again when they hear a neighbor’s dog barking, suggesting someone might be lurking outside the Leone home. The two women huddle together in the living room, scanning for the possible intruder, yet they find no one. At no point do they contemplate, “Did we remember to take Gabriela’s gun off the cabinet in the foyer?” Leaving a firearm unattended while a stalker is on the loose is a reckless oversight.

Nevertheless, rational thought vanishes when Audrey assures Gabs that everything is clear outside — only for Finn to reveal himself, having scaled the house and entered through a second-story window, declaring, “Of course you’re safe. I’ve been saying that all along.” This unsettling statement occurs just as Gabs pulls out her phone, a device gifted to her by Finn, to update the Leones. The police’s failure to insist on providing her with a new phone after her report about Finn’s stalking is utterly ridiculous.

Finn, oblivious to the gun in the room, is armed with a taser of his own. This situation forces Audrey and Gabs into a tense hostage negotiation, as they attempt to position one of them close enough to grab the gun before Finn can inflict any serious damage. However, Finn is quick to act, using the taser on Audrey, leaving only him and Gabs to discuss their relationship. Gabs desperately tries to persuade Finn to take the unconscious Audrey to the hospital for a medical evaluation. When that tactic fails, she shifts to distract him with discussions about passports and plans for their escape, inching closer to her gun. Just as she reaches for it, Finn realizes her intentions and shouts at her angrily.

Gabriela desperately tries to reason with Finn, but he seems poised to explode at any moment. In a frantic attempt, she lunges for the gun, leading to a struggle between them. Just then, a gunshot rings out, and the scene shifts to Manny in his car outside, listening to a voicemail from Sharon (Dianne Farr) before rushing to check on Gabs. Upon entering the house, he discovers Gabs holding the gun, standing over a wounded Finn. It is imperative that they take the responsible course of action and contact the authorities, claiming self-defense. However, knowing Gabs and Manny, they might just choose to conceal the incident, plunging them into a season-long battle with their conscience.

As if the gas station fire wasn’t enough heroism for one day, the thrilling two-part Fire Country finale takes another turn! Once the Station 42 firefighters return, they receive an urgent call to respond to a spreading wildfire, prompting them to quickly regroup in their truck to combat yet another inferno. All team members are back on duty except for Bode, whose unexpected presence at the station implies he’s there to receive Walter’s call from the memory care facility. Walter, clearly in the midst of a dementia episode, alerts Bode that the winds are shifting, causing the Zable Ridge fire to veer towards Edgewater, directly threatening the memory care facility. Bode gathers his gear, defying Vince’s orders. What exactly can Bode accomplish with an injured knee? Is he planning to act as a one-man rescue team for the memory care facility? The situation feels increasingly precarious.

Vince Considers a Suitable Replacement in ‘Fire Country’ Season 3 Episode 19

With the Oxalta case resolved, Three Rock is back in operation, and they kick off the week with some positive news. Cole (Tye White) has been granted parole, allowing him to partake in one final fire alongside the crew before his release. My immediate response to Cole’s announcement is a stark reminder of the show’s tendency for tragedy: “Surely, Cole is destined to perish in this gas station fire.” Wouldn’t it be refreshing for Fire Country to allow us some moments of joy? Although Cole survives the first hour, a fire ignites at Three Rock by the episode’s conclusion, ensuring the inmates are soon back in action.

Meanwhile, Vince (Billy Burke) grapples with regret over not advocating for Jake’s continued presence at Station 42, especially as he sifts through potential replacement applications. None of the candidates seem remotely fit to fill the void left by his surrogate son. This predicament leaves Vince with limited options. One possibility is promoting Bode to captain — a suggestion made by Walter — but even Sharon (Diane Farr) acknowledges it would be an ill-advised leap. Another option is to persuade Jake to reconsider his decision, which would undoubtedly be a wise choice. Alternatively, there’s Manny, who has conveniently reapplied to Cal Fire and is actively seeking employment. The ideal candidate to lead Station 42 may emerge amidst the chaos of the Zable Ridge fire, but the uncertainty surrounding the Fire Country Season 3 finale looms large.

Don’t miss the second part of the Fire Country Season 3 finale airing at 10 PM on CBS. The episode will subsequently be available for streaming on Paramount+. Be sure to return to Collider on Saturday morning for our detailed recap.