Exclusive: Rescue Me to End in 2011

The men of Rescue Me's 62 Truck will answer their last alarm ever in 2011, the year that marks the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that inspired the show, the show's co-creator and executive producer exclusively tells TVGuide.com.

"Within the next couple of weeks, we're going to begin shooting the last 19 episodes, which will be the final two seasons of the show," Peter Tolan said.

Rescue Me's focus has always been on New York City firefighters and the post-9/11 trauma they face. That focus was renewed this season, as one fireman spoke out about the terrorist attacks being a government conspiracy, while another battled cancer believed to have been caused by exposure at the World Trade Center site.

While the final episodes will most likely be produced together, the airing of the episodes will be split to make the end of the show coincide with the year of the 9/11 anniversary. "I think they're stretching the airing of it out until the 10th anniversary," Tolan said. "So if you put 10 episodes on next year and nine the following year, you'll land there."

If you're bummed by the end date announcement, maybe this will cheer you up: Tolan also hinted that recent guest star Maura Tierney could turn up again in the show's final episodes.

"We loved working with her — that was kind of a big deal to get her," Tolan said. "She's got Parenthood, but I think we have a deal where we can use her for four episodes. And since we have that deal, we will take advantage of it."

The show's fifth-season finale airs Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 10/9c on FX.