Network: ABC
Episodes: 22 (hour)
Seasons: Four
TV show dates: March 6, 2015 — August 4, 2018
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: (none)
TV show description:
This documentary news program follows the stories of people who have endured life-changing events that have changed their lives — in an instant.
Protecting children in a deadly tornado, a catastrophic car accident, or a violent hostage crisis in a maternity ward — events like these can happen anywhere and at any time. In an instant, a person’s life can be changed forever and that moment can define who the person is.
This TV show re-tells heart-pounding events and tales of survival through first-person accounts and dramatizations. The series features the trials and triumphs from many angles and includes gripping first-person interviews with the people who lived to tell their stories — and those who were instrumental in helping them survive.
Episode #22 — Fire on the Mountain
In September 2015, one of the worst fires in California history forever changed the lives of the people and the rescuers of Lake County. Extreme drought and high winds would ignite a fire so fierce and so unpredictable that residents would find themselves trapped by flames.
For Angel and Nathan Wood, that morning started as any other mornings would have. They kissed their 18-month-old daughter, Jessie, goodbye and headed to work leaving Jessie at their Cobb Mountain home with Angel’s mom, who was visiting from Scotland.
At work, Angel noticed a fire in the distance and raced home, but found police blocking her road. Despite police warnings, Angel started up the mountain, but as the flames crept in around her, she was forced to turn around.
By now, the fire had jumped the highway and was spreading into nearby Middletown, where Cody Smith got a frantic call from his wife, Jessica, who was nine months pregnant. Her screams confirmed his worst fears, “The fire’s here!”
Cody immediately headed home; and when he arrived, he saw flames surrounding his neighborhood. They were trapped and took shelter in their sand-filled horse arena. Unable to get through to 911, Cody had one last idea. He turned on his work radio and called for help. Miraculously, someone responded. It was Cody’s friend who assured him “we will find a way to get to you.” They were able to direct a sheriff to Cody’s location and that sheriff helped guide them through the only safe route out of town.
Meanwhile, Angel and Nathan Wood were on opposite sides of the mountain, agonizing over 18-month-old Jessie and Angel’s mother trapped in their home in the fire zone. But, rescuer Tim Little had managed to weave his way through the flaming mountain trails and reach the Wood’s home in time to get everyone to safety.
Though the Woods lost their home and everything inside, they didn’t lose what was important: each other. They were safely reunited outside the fire zone thanks to Tim’s heroic actions.
First aired: August 4, 2018.
What do you think? Do you like the In an Instant TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fifth season?
Great show! Keep it going.
I really love In an Instant. I would say no repeat story line as well. If you come back from a commercial break, I will remember where the story line left off.
Show is mistitled. Extended length due to multiple repeats of partial sceans and audio comments makes it easy to lose interest. The stations must be making a lot from advertizers by forcing air time to be greater than 1/2 hour.
Our family loves In An Instant and we would love to see it continue.
I agree with alisa. Sometimes to long. Half an hour would still get the point across.
We have a grandson that just graduated collage, riding home on his scooter a pickup made a left in front of him. 50 days later he went home. His life changed for ever. That was his ” in an Instant”. Your shows what can happen when you least expect it.
This show would be great if they didn’t continue to replay the same information over and over! It stretches the same content making it too long!