CBS Crossover Pairs Fire and Police Units in Wildfire and Prison Break
Showrunners discuss the logistical hurdles of filming on opposite coasts and the romantic sparks that emerged between cast members during the two-hour event.
By Vincent Parker ·
Paramount+ viewers saw two procedurals collide in a two-hour crossover event that aired this week. The storyline joined the crews of Fire Country and Sheriff Country for a combined narrative involving a wildfire and a prison break. The episodes aired as Season 5, Episode 5 of Fire Country and Season 2, Episode 5 of Sheriff Country.
The plot centered on a fire that forced Manny, played by Kevin Alejandro, to ask Mickey, played by Morena Baccarin, for help evacuating residents. The request became complicated when the pair revealed they had previously shared a disastrous date at a police department auction. The situation escalated when three female inmates escaped a transport van during the chaos. Mickey and Manny were taken hostage and forced to let the convicts take Mickey’s daughter, Skye, as collateral.
Showrunner Eric Guggenheim of Fire Country and showrunner Matt Lopez of Sheriff Country discussed the production challenges in an interview. The two series film in different Canadian cities. Fire Country shoots in Vancouver, while Sheriff Country films in Toronto. This geographic split creates a three-time-zone difference between the sets.
Lopez noted that scheduling is the primary difficulty. If an actor is needed in the other city for two days, the production must account for travel time on either end. He described the experience for the cast as similar to an Avengers movie when the whole gang gets together. Guggenheim added that continuity was a major factor. The crew shot scenes for the second part of the crossover in Toronto before starting the Season 5 filming in Vancouver.
The showrunners cited 1990s action films as a key influence. Guggenheim specifically mentioned Con Air and Thelma & Louise. He noted that many action movies from that decade used weather events like fires or tornadoes to drive the plot. The goal was to create a story where the scope expanded every few minutes with new obstacles and reveals.
The pairing of Manny and Mickey was not originally planned as a romantic interest. Lopez said he saw the two actors banter off-camera during previous shoots. Joan Rater, a creator for both shows, once outlined a pilot where the characters had dated for months. That version was dropped, but the idea of a bad date remained in Lopez’s mind. The final scene between the two characters was written as a friendly wrap-up, but the directors felt the chemistry was strong on screen.
Guggenheim stated that Manny is in a committed relationship, which complicates any potential romance. However, the pair is not the only one with romantic tension. Tex, played by Elias Cacavas, and Skye, played by Amanda Arcuri, also showed chemistry. Lopez confirmed that the studio and network wanted more of this pairing. Skye is dating an ex-con, and Mickey and Wes, played by W. Earl Brown, will discover the relationship in upcoming episodes.
The crossover also touched on ongoing storylines. In Fire Country, the character Sharon, played by Dianne Farr, possesses a large bag of money. Guggenheim said her actions will come back to bite her starting in Episode 6. In Sheriff Country, Lopez addressed Mickey’s confession in the season premiere about regretting not giving Boone a chance. He said this confession will force a new dynamic between Mickey and Boone, played by Matt Lauria. The showrunners are also considering flipping the order of the series for the next crossover event.
The production teams relied on consultants to maintain accuracy. Lopez mentioned a retired SWAT commander who helps with police procedures for Sheriff Country. He also enjoyed learning fire techniques from the consultants on the Fire Country set. The cast members reported that the cross-training helped them understand the different methods used by each group.
