Higgins Ridge

PBS: UK PREMIERE Monday 4 November at 8.15pm

Twenty elite smokejumpers parachuted into the Idaho wilderness to tackle what seemed like a routine wildfire. But fierce winds turned the blaze into a deadly inferno, and the mission quickly shifted from fighting the fire to fighting for their lives.

Remembering the tragedy of 13 firefighters who perished trying to outrun a fire in Montana’s Mann Gulch years earlier, the smokejumpers made the lifesaving decision to shelter in place.

Veteran pilot Rod Snider braved thick smoke and treacherous winds to locate the crew. Now in his 90s, he reflects on that unforgettable day, where bravery and brotherhood became their only chance for survival.