One Year Later: Discovery’s Original Canadian Documentary FORT MAC WILDFIRE: ROGUE EARTH Revisits Canada’s Costliest Natural Disaster, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET

TORONTO (April 19, 2017) – It was a hard battle fought against the unpredictable when seasonal wildfires swept through the city and surrounding forest of Fort McMurray, Alta. in May 2016, forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history. Premiering Sunday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, Discovery’s original Canadian documentary FORT MAC WILDFIRE: ROGUE EARTH takes viewers on the hour-by-hour ride with survivors as they raced against the growing flames during Canada’s costliest natural disaster. Incorporating video captured on personal devices, FORT MAC WILDFIRE: ROGUE EARTH reveals the heroes of this incredible story: the frontline firefighters, emergency service personnel, and city workers who risked their lives in a desperate battle to save their beloved town. It was a terrifying event the likes of which had not been anticipated. Dubbed “The Beast” for its merciless unpredictability, the ferocious blaze fueled by soaring temperatures and tinder-dry forest spread across nearly 590,000 hectares, destroying 2,400 structures and forcing more than 88,000 residents to flee Canada’s oil sands region. With temperatures rising all around the globe, natural disasters like this one are becoming more violent and more frequent as the Canadian Prairies look ahead to this year’s wildfire season.

(L-R:) Wildfire “The Beast” ripping through Fort McMurray, Alta.

With his heroic team of professional and volunteer firefighters from around the world, Fire Chief Darby Allen became the face of the response, working around the clock to fight the erratic flames. Throughout FORT MAC WILDFIRE: ROGUE EARTH, Allen recounts the unforgettable moments, and the many sacrifices first responders and essential service personnel who ultimately saved nearly 90% of the city. Discovery’s ROGUE EARTH series continues with one more extreme weather special: TORNADOES: ROGUE EARTH airing Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. Using video captured on smartphones and other personal devices, the new one-hour documentary relives the “Super Outbreak” of 2011, when an astonishing 362 tornadoes ripped across 21 American states. The story is told by heroes, survivors, and victims in Alabama – the state most severely affected by the scourge of tornadoes with 252 fatalities and millions of dollars in property damage. Speeding across the back roads of the state, professional storm spotters communicate with trusted broadcast meteorologist James Spann, as he races to decode the storm’s path and relay it to his audience.

(L-R:) The catastrophic destruction of the 2011 Super Outbreak

FORT MAC WILDFIRE: ROGUE EARTH and TORNADOES: ROGUE EARTH are produced by Pixcom Productions in association with Discovery. The series producer is Emmanuelle Wiecha. Executive Producers are Jacquelin Bouchard, Nicola Merola, Sylvie Desrochers, and Charles Lafortune. For Discovery, Bruce Glawson is Executive Producer. Ken MacDonald is Vice-President and General Manager, Discovery Networks. Tracey Pearce is President, Distribution and Pay, Bell Media.