NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, January 9, 2025

Episode Date: January 10, 2025

Almost 200,000 acres scorched by Southern California wildfires ; Many have lost everything in L.A. wildfires; Lack of water frustrates firefighters on the front lines.

Tonight, the race to contain the catastrophic wildfires in Southern California that have destroyed more than 9,000 structures. The historic fires burning out of control in the Los Angeles area. New images showing the scope of the destruction. At least five dead, including the first confirmed fatality from the Palisades fire, the most destructive blaze in the city's history. Officials warning the toll will likely rise. The flames burning tens of thousands of acres are now threatening critical communications towers. A staggering 180,000 people forced to evacuate. Now families returning to find their homes burned to the ground. Officials

under scrutiny for their preparation and response. Our team on the front lines as firefighters encounter yet another failing hydrant. Also tonight, the front lines as firefighters encounter yet another failing hydrant. Also tonight, the major winter storm slamming the south from New Mexico to Virginia and causing travel chaos. Over 2,000 flights canceled across the country. The farewell to former President Jimmy Carter, the emotional state funeral at the National Cathedral, bringing together all five living presidents, and then the late president's final journey to his hometown in Georgia. And amid the utter devastation, the symbol of hope still standing in the ashes of Southern California.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. Tonight in Los Angeles County, the smoke plumes parting long enough to reveal the heart-crushing extent of loss stretching across neighborhoods in the eye of those deadly firestorms. In Altadena, two aerial images of a single neighborhood tell the story. One, a before photo of tree-lined streets and modest homes. The other, what is now left, block after block of utter devastation. Tonight, multiple major wildfires still burning across more than 45 square miles of the sprawling county, from inland cities north and northeast of downtown Los Angeles, to the oceanfront enclave of Pacific Palisades to the west, where the first fatality from that fire was revealed today.

And where this drone video captured a barely recognizable hellscape that was once a thriving community and tourist favorite. The fires continue to defy efforts to contain them. At one point, flames making a high-speed run Mount Wilson and it's a way of TV and communications towers. Overall, calmer winds today aiding the fight against the most destructive fire in L.A.'s history. Tom Yamas is there to start us off tonight. Tom, good evening. Lester, good evening to you. What you see behind me here is a pile of misery and it is not unique. There are several communities and neighborhoods and residential areas that look just like this. This was a shopping center and beyond that a school and now you can't even figure out what it is. Tonight

everyone in this area is praying that the winds don't pick up. A firefighter telling me that the smallest ember with those winds can turn into a blowtorch. This is what the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history looks like. Everything is gone. The toll of the devastation is staggering. Thousands of structures already obliterated, more than authorities can even count. The burn area in the Pacific Palisades, now bigger than Manhattan. The fire killing five people. I think the death toll will rise. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's going to rise. These apocalyptic conditions now in their third day,

and the biggest infernos are still 0% contained. This is one of the eeriest scenes we've seen so far. These were the cars that were abandoned when people got stuck in gridlock and had to run for safety. A bulldozer came through here to let fire crews out. Those cars were spared, but these cars right here were stuck in the inferno. You can see how hot it got. Look at that. That's molten metal that was rolling down the bluff. And today's stunning video showing the threat to Los Angeles's infrastructure as the Eaton fire approached the transmission towers on Mount Wilson, threatening radio, cellular, and broadcast signals citywide. Roughly 2,000 firefighters are

still stretched across the front lines, but it's not enough. Residents pitching in to save their own homes. This is a tragedy. You just never think it's going to be you. And now that it is me, I can't tell you the amount of heaviness in this disaster. We met the Champion family, who lost everything. What I would give to do dishes in our own house, which is like so basic, but things that you take for granted all the life that we built here. And the threat is not over. Last night, new fires ignited.

Near more heavily populated areas, the Sunset Fire triggering rush-hour evacuations in the heart of Hollywood. Miraculously, a break in the winds let crews attack the fire from the air, stopping the blaze before it could reach homes. These firefighters are going non-stop, 60 hours battling more than just the flames. How has your water pressure been? Water pressure has been a big issue. We have had hydrants, dead hydrants, so we've been having to go back to Sunset Boulevard to get water to come all the way out here. The smoke hasn't cleared and anger is growing. Many questions loom. Was Los Angeles prepared? We will absolutely do an evaluation

to look at what worked, what didn't work, and to correct or to hold accountable anybody, department, individual, etc. Failing water pressure and hydrants leading to a heated moment. A fire victim challenging California's governor. Why was there no water in the hydrants, governor? That's all literally. Is it going to be different next time? It has to be. While the cause of the fire is still unknown, the damage is incalculable. Before and after satellite pictures show the story. On the Malibu coast, a row of multi-million dollar mansions lay to waste. Forty miles away, this view from Altadena, a middle-class neighborhood dotted with destructive fires. It's a wasteland.

For those coming back, home looks like a hellscape. We couldn't even recognize it on our way up here. We didn't even know where we were one block from our house because everything was so different. There's no landmarks left. And Tom, you mentioned there was a break in the weather. The winds were a bit more favorable today, but the situation is growing more serious this evening. That's right. Firefighters are still working around the clock. Officials believe the death toll will likely grow as they check out more neighborhoods. And there's one more thing they're warning about tonight, and that is looters.

If you can believe it, Lester, people are coming to areas like this and stealing what little people have left. So far, there have been at least a dozen arrests. Lester. All right, Tom, thank you. The task of fighting such a massive area of fire is immense. And as Morgan Chesky reports, the struggle for water is complicating the fight on the front lines. Tonight, a relentless firefight far from over. Frontline crews facing challenges that only start with the flames. What do we got going? So what we have is the fire

has already burned through here. What we're looking at right now could have been caused by a single ember. One ember could have caused this. We join Los Angeles fire captain Adam Van Gerpen in the Pacific Palisades. This hydrant has no water. Where lack of water, critical to battling a still active wildfire, frustrated crews. This one from San Francisco. What should the water pressure be right now, ideally? I mean, you want 50 to 80 is your ideal hydrant pressure. And what have you got?

I'm bouncing between 0, 50. It's not a consistent pressure. As nearby hydrants failed and water pressure fell, firefighters above switching from offense to defense. When you run out of water in that engine. Not much we can do then. We came on, this is our first job for the day. Flames burning for precious minutes before any reinforcements could arrive. Had we had water earlier on in the firefight, we probably could have stopped it from getting this big. This is something we have not seen often, but when the hydrants are dry, crews have to rely on these tanker trucks

because the fire waits for no one. The situation, a familiar one for the captain, a 25-year veteran of the LAFD. Mere blocks away, another call coming in for another home up in flames. If we had any wind right now, completely different firefight. 100% different firefight. Just feet away, a million-dollar view burned beyond recognition. There's not even a single home from this entire viewpoint that we can see that has survived. If you had officials in front of you right now, what would you ask for to have had a proper firefight here? More

firefighters, more fire hydrants, more air dropping capabilities. We need more of everything. Tonight, these crews doing whatever they can with whatever they have, fighting a historic disaster head on. And Morgan, it's all coming out of a red flag warning. Do those remain in effect? Yeah, Lester, they absolutely do. And that's one of the big concerns of the crew we embedded with today. They tell us that one ember can travel up to two miles. And that is why until that red flag warning expires at 6 p.m. on Friday, everyone needs to stay on guard because a potential fire could pop up almost anywhere. Lester. Gronczewski, thank you.

And the view from space shows the magnitude of the fire in Altadena, just part of the fire zone. And for so many returning home today, there was little left. Gotti Schwartz joins us. And Gotti, you spent the day in Altadena. What did you find? Lester, heartbreak. We found so much heartbreak. People coming back to nothing left at all. In fact, this building right here, this is the outlier because this building still has walls up. So many of the homes that we visited today were down to the foundations,

a bunch of melted metal and piles of ash. In Altadena today, desolation and eerie silence, punctured by gas lines still spewing fire. In the destruction, there was a search for anything with meaning. This is everything you own. Everything. And then, you know, now we're just trying to find something. I mean, I don't care, like my kid found a teacup, half a teacup, broke. She was thrilled. You know, I mean, what else can we get, man?

It's gone, bro. As the flames descended at four in the morning, Rupert Garcia tried to fight back. This tree caught on fire. Embers are flying all over the place, onto the house. One ember even scorching his cheek. At what point did you realize, like, I'm not going to save the house? When my son-in-law grabbed me like this and said, no, we got to go. Wow.

And I was like, no, man. And I turned around and I said, man, I can't go, bro. 51 years, man, I've been in this house. Shortly after Rupert was forced to flee the neighborhood, we arrived to find what felt like a hurricane of fire. In the chaos, we spotted a horse alone and trapped in an inferno and ran to get help. This is firefighter Garrett Mora jumping to action. I was keeping him cool. I sprayed some water around him. Today, when we met up with Garrett again, we learned the horse survived. But across the way, Jose de la Torre shows us what was the garage full of landscaping tools he had just invested in.

Now his livelihood, along with almost everything else, gone in an instant. So often we hear they escaped only with the clothes on their back. I didn't get anything. This is it. Look at my shoes. See? These are my house slippers. Tonight, that is the shared and terrible reality. You work hard for your American dream. For so many in a community who came face to face with these flames. Gotti Schwartz, NBC News, Altadena, California. And earlier in the broadcast, we told you about the looting happening in some areas and now the sheriff announcing a curfew in the fire zones.

Steve Patterson joins us. Steve, what more do we know? Lester, the sheriff tonight saying there have been more reports of burglary, more reports of looting in fire zones like this. To combat that, more resources, more boots on the ground, including, we're hearing, the National Guard expected to be active at both the Eaton and Pacific fire zones. And yes, a curfew, if not implemented tonight, then tomorrow night, starting at 6 p.m. every night to 6 a.m., with the goal being avoid more further victimization of people already suffering so much. Lester. All right. Steve Patterson, thank you.

Former President Jimmy Carter was remembered for his kindness, compassion and character as four of his successors were among those who gathered for his funeral at the National Cathedral. Here's Kelly O'Donnell. The passing of a president offers a rare moment of national reflection. Stirring traditions played out today to honor the life of Jimmy Carter. The 39th president brought together decades of his successors, their interactions appearing to set aside conflicts in politics and personalities. One handshake ended nearly four years of no contact between former Vice President Pence

and the president he served. And Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump engaged in conversation. In his eulogy, President Biden praised Carter's example of leadership. Strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. Sons of the late Republican President Gerald Ford and Carter's Vice President Walter Mondale read tributes their fathers had written. It was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries, even before we cherished one another as dear friends. We told the truth, we obeyed the law, and we kept the peace.

Remembered as a global humanitarian to his family, a regular guy at home. My grandfather was likely to show up at the door in some 70s short shorts and Crocs. Jimmy Carter's long, faithful journey ends tonight. Forever a son of Plains, Georgia. Kelly O'Donnell, NBC News. We will take a break here and in 60 seconds, Al Roker and when conditions will calm down in California. Plus the major new winter storm hitting a big part of the country right after this. Welcome back. Those on the front lines of the firefight in Southern California are hoping for conditions to improve. Al Roker is here. Any relief inside, Al?

Just a little bit, Lester, and then it's going to get bad again, unfortunately. The red flag warnings now still for 17 million people. Wind gusts tonight 65 miles per hour plus single-digit relative humidity. The gusts redeveloped tonight, especially over the hills and the mountains. They died down a bit. Then, latter part of the weekend into next week, they increase again, unfortunately, thanks to a warming climate and persistent drought. More than half of the top 20 largest fires have happened in California in the last five years. Right now, 86 million people looking at winter weather advisories, storm warnings from the southwest to the coast. Big storm system now getting itself together, bringing snow to Oklahoma, northern Texas.

One to three inches of a sloppy, icy mix in Dallas. Six to nine in Little Rock. Two to five in Charleston. And, Lester, we're looking from Norfolk all the way to Dallas. Anywhere from a tenth of an inch of ice to even a little bit less going to cause some major problems on roads. All right. Al, thanks very much. And coming up, the next struggle for many in Los Angeles, navigating insurance after the fires. What to know after the break.

Even before the wildfires raging through Southern California, the state was facing a major crisis. Thousands of homeowners dropped from their insurance. Now, as Liz Kreutz reports, many who've lost everything could struggle to be made whole again. Hey, bring the engine right here. As wildfires continue to rage in California, one estimate says the insured losses are already at least $20 billion. For Breonna Navarro, the loss is incalculable. She loved her family. She believes her grandmother, Arlene Kelly, perished at their home in the Eaton Fire.

I thought she would be like 99, you know, just walking around. Their house of more than 40 years burned to the ground. Are you worried as you rebuild that you won't be able to get insurance anymore? Possibly, yeah. It's difficult. Where do you even start? Seven of California's top 12 home insurers either paused or limited policies over the last two years. State Farm, which has 21% of the market share in the state, announced in March it was making the difficult but necessary decisions that would mean not renewing 30,000 home policies in the state, ending 69 percent of its

policies in the now devastated Pacific Palisades. Insurance in California is horrifying. In Altadena, Dustin and Aaron Rubin say they were dropped from another insurance company last year. It was only last month they finally found a company that would give them coverage. I wonder how many other people weren't able to get that policy at the 11th hour because you worked very hard to get it. More and more Californians are turning to the state-created insurance provider of last resort called Fairplan, a temporary safety net offering basic coverage when people can't get insured through private companies, with enrollment and home policies surging 123% in the past four years. Ricardo Lara is California's insurance commissioner.

Once people submit their claims, when should they expect to see the money? So it all depends. I know it's difficult and a difficult answer. I want to make sure that we get it as quickly as possible, weeks, if not a month. Experts say those who have suffered a loss from the wildfires should keep track of all expenditures, start going through photos and videos that can be used as evidence to show what was in the home and document everything, something many here are doing

right now. And the governor here in California telling me he expects these fires to be among the most costly disasters of our lifetime. So many losing everything and the process of being made whole just getting started. Lester. Liz, thank you for that. Up next, signs of hope amid the ruins. What our Jacob Soboroff found still standing in his old neighborhood. Stay with us. Finally, tonight, the Palisades fire destroyed so many houses of worship, but one is still standing tonight and our Jacob Soboroff is there. Everything across the street from the synagogue burnt down, but the synagogue is still here. What's it like to see it? Surreal. Unbelievable. For rabbis Amy Bernstein and Daniel Schur,

and Cantor Chaim Franco, seeing the Kehillat Israel synagogue standing amid so much devastation is staggering. Look at this. This is the ash that came through the door. Yeah. I can't believe it's so big. It's a little more than that. I'm so glad it's here. Knowing what happened outside of these walls and seeing even just this piece is... The remnants of the palisades is right here. Wow.

This is the community in which I went to preschool. Yes. My siblings had their Bar Mitzvahs here. This is our refuge for the entire community, not just the Jewish community. You know where I am? You could fill the sanctuary with your congregants who have lost their homes. Correct. Yes.

At least this home is standing for so many people, so many of us. This is our home. When tragedy strikes and disaster strikes, we turn to our faith. And that's what this represents. I sing this lovingly for our community to heal. And that is nightly news for this Thursday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other.

Good night.