Tonight, the historic and catastrophic wildfires in Southern California turning deadly after 80,000 people are forced to evacuate their homes.

The apocalyptic images. A state of emergency in Los Angeles is thousands of acres burned impacting one of the most picturesque places in the nation.

Multiple wildfires raging out of control tonight, fueled by hurricane force winds, the fire in the nation. Multiple wildfires waging out of control tonight. Fueled by hurricane force

winds. The fire in the Pacific Palisades, now the most destructive in the city's history.

At least five people are dead, an estimated 1,000 structures destroyed. More than a million without power.

The grounds of the iconic Getty Villa up in flames.

The first helicopters in planes taking off to join the fight and desperate homeowners racing to save their homes with water hoses.

Streets choked with abandoned cars last night, now emptying our team in the fire zone.

Also tonight the new winter storm set to sweep across the country from the south to the northeast. Al Roker is here. President-elect Donald

Trump asking the Supreme Court to halt his hush money sentencing set for Friday. The alarming moment,

a man with a machete and knives arrested, trying to enter

the viewing for former President Jimmy Carter at the U.S. Capitol. And late tonight, President

elect Trump arriving to pay his respects. The car blowing through a railroad gate slammed by an

oncoming train in Florida. The driver's condition tonight and the personal loss

in California's wildfire disaster. Our correspondent returning to find his childhood home devastating.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome. I've covered wildfires in California since the earliest days of

my career when I don't remember anything quite like the firestorms raging across

Southern California tonight. Multiple major infernos destroying more than a thousand homes

and businesses, killing at least five people and defying efforts

to contain them. Firefighters in Pacific Palisades outmaned and in some cases out of water.

Hydrants running dry. Firefighting aircraft for a time grounded by ferocious winds.

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