The 7 Best Firefighter Shows, Ranked
Procedural shows are a cornerstone of TV. Right now, cop shows are abundant, but there is a growing number of firefighter shows. They depict everyday people doing almost superheroic things. They put their lives on the line and walk through fires to save people, while remaining calm and collected in the face of civilians’ fear.
I find myself gravitating toward firefighter shows for those reasons. They’re often equally entertaining and uplifting. They also usually have a core group of characters that become a staple of their respective show. That solid cast makes diving into a new series, especially a procedural that will likely have a lot of episodes to its name, less daunting. Here are the best firefighter shows, ranked. Watch them on Hulu, Paramount+, and more.
The only reason why 9-1-1: Nashville is last on this list is because it’s so new. At the time of writing, it’s just finishing its first season on ABC. However, it has been renewed for a second season, so there are high hopes that the show’s confidence will only build. After all, the Nashville-set series holds a unique place in the 9-1-1 (2018) universe and leans into melodrama.
So much so that 9-1-1: Nashville almost feels like a soap opera. That’s a compliment as someone who also enjoys the heightened drama of another Tennessee-set series, Nashville (2012). 9-1-1: Nashville finds its roots in family drama, led by three all-stars to TV and pop culture—Grey’s Anatomy’s (2005) Jessica Capshaw, NCIS: Los Angeles’s Chris O’Donnell (2009), and singer, songwriter, and actress LeAnn Rimes.
Tacoma FD views the work of firefighters through a comedic lens, something that is rare when it comes to firefighter shows. It’s not unpopular to combine first responders and comedy on TV. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) did the same for eight seasons across two networks. Tacoma FD’s run ended much sooner with four seasons, making it TruTV’s last scripted series.
Tacoma FD takes a high-stakes job and makes it a low-stakes watch. Like other firefighter shows, it still relies on a core cast to make a team of its ensemble. I always thought that Hassie Harrison stood out as Lucy. It helps that Tacoma FD also has a wide-ranging list of guest stars like actor David Arquette and comedian Jeff Dunham.
There was a lot of good energy heading into 9-1-1: Lone Star because it was the first 9-1-1 spin-off series. I remember being instantly distracted by the yellow-ish filter the first season used, but I stuck it out because I really appreciated the dynamics being built. Most immediately, the father/son relationship of Captain Owen Strand (Rob Lowe) and T.K. Strand (Ronen Rubinstein), as well as the romance between firefighter Judson Ryder (Jim Parrack) and dispatcher Grace Ryder (Sierra McClain).
Gradually, I (and many others) fell for T.K.’s romance with Carlos Reyes (Rafael L. Silva), who was a police officer and became a Texas Ranger. Also, this show has Gina Torres. She should be a reason to watch any show, whether it be Suits (2011) or Firefly (2002). So, even when 9-1-1: Lone Star leans too much on Owen Strand, it mostly succeeds because of its ensemble—and the rare viral moment. I’m sure you’ve seen the scene where Lowe’s character is doing chest compressions on a frozen man so his chest caves in like a chocolate bunny.
Set in the scenic small town of Edgewater in Northern California, Fire Country feels like another breath of fresh air for firefighter shows. For one, it’s not a spin-off, though it has spawned one. So, it is a nice one to jump into without any prior commitments. However, it also has some casting shake-ups lately that unravel the appeal of the show for me.
The series has the premise of a family drama as much as a firefighting one, but by the end of Season 3, it loses that with a major death. But the truth is, the firefighting drama doesn’t feel the same without the family at its core. So, if you’re going into this show, expect a different vibe with Season 4.
Technically, 9-1-1, like its spin-offs, is a first responders show, but its primary focus is the firefighters at the 118, a station in Los Angeles, California. Over the course of its nine and counting seasons, this show has done it all. It sends the team into tsunamis and zoo breaks and even to outer space. All the while, the characters are battling really intense and relatable personal conflicts and struggles, like alcoholism and PTSD. Through it all, they’re a family.
Similar to Fire Country but more devastatingly, in my opinion, 9-1-1 Season 8 rocks this show with its biggest (and, hopefully, only) loss. However, the perk of this show is that no matter how bizarre it gets (and it does, at times), this core group of characters remains as committed to their jobs in helping people as they are to each other.
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Station 19 follows the firefighters at the titular firehouse—shocker! Like Private Practice (2007), it’s a Grey’s Anatomy (2005) spin-off series. It ran for seven seasons and really captured my heart during that time. Where some firefighter shows try to push the chemistry of their ensemble or build one off a pre-existing family, Station 19 creates a chosen family. Admittedly, some dynamics—Travis Montgomery (Jay Hayden) and Victoria Hughes (Barrett Doss), for example—are stronger than others. Still, the firefighters make their firehouse a second home.
Fair warning, some character deaths in Station 19 still make me tear up just to think about. That is a testament to the show’s dedication to character. Station 19 often veers away from the typical procedural formula to embrace more character-driven storytelling. It’s less often that I think about the fires or situations that these characters walk through, and more about the people they’re helping and how that impacts them. For instance, “I got the dog” is a phrase in the series finale that only has emotional resonance because of the show’s character work.
Chicago Fire is the longest-running firefighting show on TV right now. It is currently airing its 14th season on NBC. That feat alone gives it the first spot on this list. It also launched a whole franchise of shows under the One Chicago umbrella. Without Chicago Fire, there is no Chicago P.D. (2014) or Chicago Med (2015). Of course, that longevity comes with turnover that may not be ideal for some viewers. I know I’ll never be over Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund), Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer), or Leslie Shay (Lauren German), all for different but valid reasons.
Still, tuning into Chicago Fire, with any frequency, feels like so many things haven’t changed, even when they have. Franchise staples like Molly’s Bar still exist. Firefighters Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) still have one of the best romances on TV. The show knows how to balance the procedural with the characters’ interpersonal lives. Still, after all this time, Chicago Fire is a familiar place for fans of firefighting shows to land.
