TV medical dramas have been the rage for decades with the emphasis on hospital-based medical shows. However, the first responder drama can be just as thrilling. Firefighters are the usual focus yet there can also be paramedics or other types of emergency workers. The shows are usually packed with thrills and the focus on “emergency of the week” storylines.

The best ones also have compelling characters, well written subplots and enthrall viewers every week. There are a lot out there and thanks to streaming, you can find plenty around. For anyone into a first responder drama, these dozen are worth tracking down on streaming.

Fire Country “Pilot” – Max Thieriot stars as Bode Donovan, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region.