Tonight, two major stories as we come on the air, the explosive new wildfire forcing evacuations in Southern California,

and the dangerous deep freeze across the south.

First, that new inferno in Los Angeles County rapidly spreading to more than 5,000 acres in just over two hours.

The race to escape, more than 30,000 under evacuation orders or warnings. The fast-moving

flames, threatening homes, buildings, even schools. Red flag warnings in effect are team in the

fire zone. Also tonight the deadly once-in-a-lifetime winter storm paralyzing the south. In Atlanta,

vehicles abandoned, ice covering the roads.

New Orleans seeing a record breaking 10 inches of snow. We're tracking it all. The deadly shooting

in a high school cafeteria in Nashville once student killed. The shooter, a 17-year-old,

also dead. The chilling scenes at the latest school were to fall victim to gun violence.

The growing fallout from President Trump's January 6 pardons the far-right leaders walking free.

The head of the proud boys at Miami Airport is threat of retribution.

The oathkeepers founder, seen at the Capitol, and on immigration,

the president's plan to send more than a thousand troops to the border.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome. As we come on the air tonight, a new major fire is raging out of control in Los Angeles

County. Within just a few hours, the fire in the Castaic area north of L.A. exploding to over 5,000

acres. Santa Ana winds jitter and gusts over 30 miles per hour with stronger winds forecast into

this evening. At a local high school, a chaotic evacuation,

students rushing to safety against the ominous glow of the fast-moving inferno just over the

horizon. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place with many structures threatened. Aerial

tankers have been dropping fire retardant on the advancing flames, while some

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