FX has renewed “Rescue Me” for a sixth season, ordering 18 additional episodes of the Denis Leary series.

“Rescue Me,” which kicks off its fifth season April 7 (10 p.m.), was FX’s top-rated series, averaging 4.8 million viewers with its four weekly runs combined.

Season five, which FX officials say was delayed so long because of the WGA strike, will include 22 episodes that will air over 23 weeks, culminating in a Sept. 8 season finale.

The previous four seasons each featured 13 episodes, which is the standard for cable originals.

To support the show’s fifth-season premiere, Leary plans to headline an 11-city live comedy tour that will also feature “Rescue Me” co-stars Adam Ferrara and Lenny Clarke.