Discovery series Heavy Rescue: 401 is gaining ratings momentum as it heads into its third season.

The debut episode of season three drew an average audience of 481,000 viewers (+3), increasing 28% from its season-two premiere, according to Numeris data provided by Bell Media. Around 253,000 of those viewers were in the 25-to-54 demo, with the episode reaching more than 2.2 million in total.

Outside of Canada the series airs as a Netflix original in around 190 territories.

While a nearly half-million ratings haul is impressive in today’s specialty landscape, the total is a decrease from the record-setting season one premiere, which drew 720,000 in January 2017.

Discovery attributed this year’s uptick to overall viewership growth on the channel in the current broadcast year. According to Discovery, the channel has seen a 12% audience increase across the key 25-to-54 demo this year.

Thunderbird Entertainment is currently in production in various locations across Ontario on the fourth season, which will premiere on Discovery in 2020.

Thunderbird produces the series in association with Discovery Canada. The series producer is Todd Serotiuk, with Thunderbird’s Mark Miller and Discovery’s Bruce Glawson serving as executive producers. The show, about recovery tow truck drivers working across Ontario, is a spin-off of Discovery’s popular Highway Thru Hell series.