Jamie Davis and his heavy rescue crew have become household names with the success of Highway Thru Hell.
The eight-part television series, which had the highest premiere audience in Discovery Channel history, followed the team as they worked to keep the local highways open for truckers last winter under unpredictable conditions.
“I’m a bit shocked at how popular the show is,” said Davis.
“I’m really taken by how many people come up and talk to me and want posters. We drove to Castlegar on the weekend and every time we stopped, one thing I was impressed with was people were bringing their kids to see us. There’s a lot of kids watching this show, which was something I didn’t realize.”
One of the main stars of the series is the Coquihalla Highway, which features some of the steepest and most treacherous terrain in North America. During the worst storms, big wrecks can come as often as every 12 hours. When backups shut down the highway, its often up to Jamie Davis and his heavy rescue crew to get traffic moving again.
“It’s very real, there’s no made up content in the show,” said Davis. “It really showcases what we do, how we do it and the problems we go through. Heavy recovery and big truck accidents typically happen during the night in an area where people don’t get to see it. It was great to be able to really show the industry for what it is.”
Even though Jamie Davis and his crew are the focus of Highway Thru Hell, the series also highlights the work of other involved organizations such as the Ministry of Transportation, Emil Anderson Maintenance, RCMP and avalanche control.
The inaugural season of Highway Thru Hell wrapped up on Tuesday night. While there’s still no official confirmation of a second season, Discovery Channel has announced a follow-up special called Highway Thru Hell: After the Crash will premier on Oct. 30.
Show producer Mark Miller catches up with the heavy rescue crew as they reflect over the highs and lows on the mountain last winter. In between highlight clips, showing some of the best and worst times they had the over the season, the drivers talk about their toughest wrecks, worst injuries, stormiest weather, tense moments on the team, and why they stick it out despite it all.
Fans will be able to chat live during the special with members of the cast and crew of Highway Thru Hell as they answer questions about the series via Twitter and Facebook.