“9-1-1: Lone Star” to End with Season 5 After Rob Lowe Called It the 'End of An Era'

The cancellation news comes after the cast has fueled speculation about the show coming to an end after season 5

Season 5 of 9-1-1: Lone Star will be its last.

On Thursday, Sept. 5, FOX announced that the Rob Lowe-led procedural will conclude following the upcoming fifth season, which is set to premiere on Sept. 23.

In a statement, Michael Thorn, President of FOX Television Network, said that the final season will give the show the "high-stakes send-off it deserves, complete with breathless rescues, insurmountable odds and relatable personal struggles, thanks to our incomparable, stellar cast led by Rob Lowe and Gina Torres."

He also thanked the show's creators, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, calling them "one of the greatest creative teams in all of television" as he credited them with "creating one of the most action-packed dramas anywhere."

Related: 9-1-1: Lone Star Cast Members Respond to Cancellation Rumors: 'Grateful for the Family I've Created'

Speculation that season 5 of the 9-1-1 spinoff would be its last began circulating this spring, and series regular Sierra McClain's exit only added fuel to the flames.

In August, Lowe, 60, who leads the show and Austin's fledgling 126 firehouse unit as Owen Strand, told Variety that the cast "all went into [season 5] pretty much knowing that it was going to be the last season."

"It feels like it's probably the end of an era of a certain type," he continued. "Well, it doesn't feel like it. It is the end of an era of a certain type of show we once had an opportunity to make, and I think they're great."

Lowe said that the upcoming 12-episode season consists of "mini-movies every week," adding, "I think we did a really good job. The stories that we were able to tell on a weekly basis in terms of the scope and scale — that's probably the thing I'm most proud of."

The final season will kick off with a multi-episode storyline involving a "catastrophic train derailment" that "endangers several lives," including some of 126 team under Captains Strand and Tommy Vega (Torres).

Lowe told PEOPLE that the opening plotline is an "insane three-part special event" that required an amazing set. "I was taking pictures on the set, videos on the set, and sending that to everybody I know, but you just can't believe that this is not a $200 million movie — that's what it looks like."

Related: Rob Lowe Is Relishing Life at 60: How the Midwest Kid Went from Brat Packer to Sober Family Man with 'No Regrets' (Exclusive)

Aside from an action-packed kickoff, season 5 sees Owen still reeling from his half-brother's death at the end of season 4, while Tommy is finding out that the "the road to happiness" in her relationship "is filled with obstacles" and T.K. (Ronen Rubenstein) and Carlos’ marriage is put to the test when Carlos (Rafael L. Silva) becomes obsessed with solving his father’s murder.

"With Judd (Jim Parrack) resigning from the 126 to take care of his recently handicapped son Wyatt (Jackson Pace), Owen must find a new lieutenant to replace Judd and has a difficult decision ahead of him when both Marjan (Natacha Karam) and Paul (Brian Michael Smith) apply for the promotion," per the official synopsis.

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Season 5 of 9-1-1: Lone Star premieres Monday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

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