Good evening. While they blew up suddenly and out of nowhere, they were not unexpected. Southern california has been under a red flag warning, meaning hot and dry and windy and favorable wildfire conditions. And tonight theyre in the middle of an allout fight there. The picture from space shows the smoke plume where the winds blow to the west, down the dry hill sides, away from the land, out over the water. 3700 homes are under evacuation warnings, and over 1700 acres have burned, including several homes. A several hundred firefighters are on the job tonight. It is where we begin tonight, nbcs Miguel Almaguer is in glendora, california, where three arrests have been made in connection with this fire. Miguel, good evening. Reporter brian, good good evening. Police say they took three men into custody after they started an illegal campfire. Five people have been injured, at least five homes have been destroyed. You may be able to see the smoke behind me. Thats because this blaze is only 30 contained. While the calendar may read winter, here on the ground for crews its feeling a lot like summer. Explosive and out of control. The socalled colby fire sweeping down through the winderdry canyons towards neighborhoods with million homes. It is really spreading very, very quickly here. Reporter flames quickly engulfed residents in this suburb east of los angeles. Residents scrambling to get out of the way. Some 5,000 people ordered to evacuate with no time to pack. It just all happened so fast, it just went so quick. It was like get out. Reporter ron galloway lived at the historic singer mansion, part of the estate owned by the famous sowing Machine Company devoured by flames. It was catching fire down here. And it only happened a few minutes. And it was everywhere, all around us. Reporter with fire hopscotching through neighborhoods, palm trees turned to blowtorches. The sky turned a dark eerie glow, closing schools and clogging freeways. The terrain couldnt be more difficult for firefighters to battle. The San Gabriel Mountains which is feeding this blaze literally dropped into the backyard of hundreds of homes. Mike schaub was awakened by fire engines and saw flames out his window. What is it like to watch this . Its a little bit scary, you know. Thats our backyard. Reporter firefighters were ready. Strike teams were in position before the blaze because conditions were ripe for fire. Because of our preparation, we were able to save hundreds if not thousands of homes this morning. Reporter but tonight, the forecast calls for 40 miles an hour winds. Firefighters will be on their heels. Miguel almaguer, nbc news, glendora. This is mike taibbi in los angeles. Its the triest and deepest drought on record in much of the western southwest, and getting worse fast. In just the past week, one estimate of extreme drought for california more than doubled from 27 to nearly 63 of the entire state. The reason . A High Pressure ridge beneath the jet stream that has seemed unmovable. The jet stream is so far to the north, taking the storms up and over that ridge. So thats why were not getting the much needed rain and snow that we so desperately need in california. Reporter among the consequences, reservoirs that feed tens of millions of people and water the farmland that feeds much of the nation at record low levels. Joe del basci that pharmacy melons says with the drought he could ifornia farm. We are looking at an emergency. Its coming slowly, but it is going to hit us here. Reporter scientists measuring the crucial snowpack we got 6. Reporter are very worried as they trudge over bare ground that is usually blanked right now. Unfortunately, the snowpack is only about 15 to 20 of what it should be this time of year. Reporter less snow melt means some species of salmon cant get to their spawning grounds and has this bear crossing a ski slope instead of hibernating. But the biggest threats are the public safety. Record temps now covering 11 states, and to the agriculturebased economy, some water use restrictions are now being rolled out. You see a very serious human impact in a major swath of california when you have a drought like this. Reporter it is so bad that last week catholic bishops asked their parishioners to pray for rain. Those prayers so far unanswered. At ground level you can see the fire from scores of miles away from Downtown Los Angeles and all the way from the pacific. Now, the ominous fact, january is usually the wettest month of the year in southern california. Now under the conditions right now here and elsewhere in the drought zone, it is the driest january on record. Brian . Mike taibbi in l. A. Miguel almaguer on the fire line before that. Gentlemen, thanks to you both. And in new jersey, word of the widening investigation on the George Washington bridge scandal involving the administration of governor chris christie. In subpoenas that are coming out now, almost two dozen people and organizations will be ordered to provide documents to a legislative committee. With get the latest tonight from nbcs kelly odonnell. She is in trenton. Kelly, good evening. Reporter good evening, brian. This is a specially formed committee that has brandnew subpoena power and is using it. Looking for documents like emails from 17 individuals and three organizations. Im told to expect that will be the governors office, his Reelection Campaign and the port authority. That is more than lawmakers told us to originally expect. Now, the governor himself is not being subpoenaed. No names were given right now. Governor christie spent the day out at the jersey shore, visiting Hurricane Sandy survivors. His office has hired a former federal prosecutor. The committee brought in the prosecutor who tried illinois governor blagojevich. Governor christie says that he will not be distracted by that bridge scandal, and told consistents nothing will get in the way of his doing his job. Brian . Kelly odonnell in trenton covering it all. Kelly, thanks. And now to the West VirginiaChemical Spill that fouled the water for hundreds of thousands of people and led to precautions down river to the city of cincinnati, among other places. Now were learning of a special risk group in all of this. Our chief Environmental Affairs correspondent Anne Thompson is just back from covering the story there for days. Anne, good evening. Reporter good evening, brian. I wish i had better news. But the cdc is advising pregnant women not to drink the water in charleston because they say they simply dont have enough information on the chemical that polluted the water supply, mchm. This comes hours after the word that the water was declared safe to drink. So you can imagine the people are very upset. The cdc says there are no studies on mchm that affects Reproductive Health or cancer. In fact, in calculating the one part per million safe levels, the cdc says it only would consider two studies done, looking at what happens when animals inject the chemicals. And it factored in animals with human extractlations, the difference in people suj as age and weight. And the fact there is so little known about this chemical. The cdc says it stands by that one part per million advisory and says its not likely to associated with any Adverse Health effect. The company that makes mchm, eastman, says it will put the studies on its website tomorrow. And it appears the most recent study was done in 1997. Eastman says this is the first environmental incident involving this chemical. Brian . Anne thompson, just back from days covering this ongoing story. Anne, thanks. Tonight authorities in indiana are trying to figure out what set off a gunman who opened fire in a Grocery Store in elkhart killing two women and pointing a semiautomatic handgun at a third person before police shot and killed him. Investigators say there is no indication the gunman even knew the people he killed. About a dozen people, including customers and employees were in the store at the time. There has been another deadly accident involving a u. S. Military helicopter. This time it happened at Hunter Army Airfield in savannah, georgia, at the end of a training flight when a black hawk with three on board slammed into the ground while attempting to land. One person was killed, another three were injured. All were members of the night stalkers, part of the 2011 raid that killed osama bin laden. We first told you about the scandals piling up for Nuclear Missile launch officers, the men and women in uniform entrusted to maintain the mill defenses. Allegations of cheating on exams and drugs within the ranks are just a string of allegations that dated back for years. Tonight, our pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski takes us underground for a closer look at this highstakes assignment. Reporter ten stories underground locked behind massive doors that could withstand a nuclear blast. These Nuclear Missile launch officers are at the tip of the sphere. Working side by side over 24 hour shifts, they literally have their fingers on the Nuclear Triggers. But outside these bunkers, the core has been rocked by the largest cheating scandal in air force history. 34 Nuclear Launch officers at Malmstrom Air force base in montana have been pulled off the mission and their security clearances suspended, accused of cheating on exams. It is completely unacceptable. Well get to the bottom of it and hold people appropriately accountable. Reporter the officers are accused of cheating on the very exams aimed at testing their ability to do their jobs. Cheating or tolerating others who cheat runs counter to everything we believe in as a service. Reporter it gets worse. This cheating scandal was uncovered during an investigation into al qaeda an alleged drug abuse by missile officers. Just the latest in a series of major problems for the nuclear mission. In 2007, the air force lost track of six armed Nuclear Missiles flown crosscountry from north dakota to Barksdale Air base in louisiana. Six months later, the air force accidentally shipped Nuclear Triggers to taiwan. Then secretary of defense robert gates fired both the air force secretary and chief of staff. My reaction was i thought i took care of that problem. Reporter gates told nbcs Andrea Mitchell the end of the cold war lowered the standards for the overall nuclear mission. Without the sense of immediacy to the mission, discipline became lax and weve seen all these other problems. Reporter despite the mission, it remains in safe hands at least with those still on the job. Jim miklaszewski, nbc news, the pentagon. Another blast of frigid air is sweeping through the northern part of the country tonight, and it brought blizzard conditions to parts of minnesota today, closing roads and schools. This same storm was being felt in the dakotas after it whipped across montana with fierce winds, and it caused a big pileup in south dakota. Now tonight its all moving east. Still ahead tonight, trading places. One of the most important conversations a family can have. Tonight, dr. Nancy snyderman shows us how it transpired with her parents. And later, the predawn oscar announcements this morning and all the folks who thought there must be some mistake. Tonight here, we are revisiting an occasional series of reports we first brought you years back, called trading places. Its stories of our own correspondents who are serving as caregivers for their own aging parents. Well, tonight, our chief medical editor dr. Nancy snyderman tells a very personal story about the two parents who raised her, and an important conversation that had to happen as they entered a new phase of their lives. Happy birthday to you reporter it was a family celebration this past july, a milestone when my father turned 90. And an opportunity to continue an important conversation i had been having with my parents for years. What is the hardest thing about getting old . There are things i would like to complete or put in order, and i never will. Dad, what do you think is the hardest thing about getting old . Knowing that the spell here is finite, and one of these days im just going to not answer the bell. Reporter death is a subject my parents, dr. Sanford and joyce snyderman have never avoided. Reporter what do you think it is that makes some people so unwilling to talk about death and dieing . It is the unknown. Yeah, the unknown. That is what scares people. Reporter nearly six years ago, my parents, having out lived most of their friends moved from my hometown of fort wayne, indiana, to princeton, where i live. That move has proved important as their health has declined. So i brought over living wills for both of you. Reporter together, we confront the tough questions and make decisions about my parents end of life wishes. I dont see any sense in staying alive just to stay alive mechanically. Have you thought about the things you dont want to have done . Nothing artificial. So no feeding tubes, no ventilation . What would be the point, the extraordinary attempt at my Health Situation . Reporter like many other caregivers, i have gradually taken over financial, household, and medical responsibilities. Do you remember a moment while still my mom you went from caring for me to the point that i became a person caring for you . In exact . It didnt happen in one moment. It happened over a period of time. As you took on more responsibilities. And then it hit me that along with my being a caretaker for your father, you are a caretaker for both of us. Its tough. It can be a burden, but its an extraordinary gift. Reporter a gift that has transformed our parent child relationship into a friendship and allows me to honor their wishes at the end of life. I have the loveliest woman in the world as my wife. I have had Great Children who are doers. And goers. What else is there . Im happy. Reporter this has not been a solo journey. My siblings have been part of every conversation. And although we dont always agree when we look at some problems differently, there is consensus, because its not about us. Its about the decisions my parents have made. And because they have spoken with us every step of the way, brian, it allows us to be the best children we know how to be. Well, on behalf of everybody, thanks for sharing. Hang in there, be tough, as i keep reminding my own kids. And next week well get to see our inlaws on this segment. We also have a lot more information for folks on the website. We do great resources on the web. Thank you very much. You bet, brian. Well take a break here. And were back to remember some wellknown characters in hollywood. Were back right after this. Some rough air aloft has sent a United Airlines 777 flying from newark to beijing back to newark after turbulence hit about 45 minutes into its long flight. There were injuries on board, five of them, all flight attendants, likely because they were on their feet early in the flight while all 189 other passengers were still seated. It is the middle of summer in australia and theyre struggling with temperatures in some places reaching 115. The heat sparked wildfires that put a strain on power grids forced a delay of almost four hours at the Australian Open in melbourne, a move welcomed by the players who had complained about what one of them called inhumane playing conditions in the heat. If you grew up watching tv in the 60s, you knew the show, you knew the theme song, and you knew the character played by russell johnson. He was the professor on gilligans island. Russell johnson has died. As a young man, he was a decorated combat veteran in world war ii. He flew 44 combat missions as a b25 pilot, was badly injured when shot down by the japanese. Walk home he studied drama on the gi bill and became a film actor. Russell johnson was 89 years old. And from that same tv era, the man who played Reuben Kincaid on the Partridge Family has died. Dave madden was born in canada, moved to the u. S. And joined the u. S. Air force. Tried his hand at magic and night clubs. He got a job on laugh in. That led to the Partridge Family. Dave madden was 82. Oscar nominations came out this morning. The entire list son our website. The big films leading the way, american hustle, 12 years a slave and gravity. Lot of them couldnt help but see omissions, like where is tom hanks, captain phillips, and saving mr. Banks. Where is his costar, Emma Thompson for that matter. Many expected nominations as well for Robert Redford and perhaps oprah winfrey. And meryl streep broke her own record with her 18th oscar nomination. The awards ceremony is march 2nd. When we come back, beating the odds to become one of the most important people in town. Finally tonight, a real Success Story involving a remarkable woman who made it despite overwhelming odds. Evelyn winn dixon was ready to give up on life, but found a way to turn things around, and is now an inspiration in a lot of different lives. We get her story of hope and resill yentes tonight from nbcs maria shriver. How foolish was that . My life could have ended here. Reporter Evelyn Winn Dickson says what brought her to this bridge in 1973 started with one bad decision. She got pregnant during her first semester at college. Back then, a girl was put to shame. Reporter she dropped out, got married and had three more children and by the age of 32 was a divorced, homeless mother. Do you think that people judged you . You had to go to the army base and get canned cheese, chicken, and people say horrid, hideous things to you. Thats my tax money. Look at that. Reporter when it all became too much, she thought her insurance policy would provide for her kids if she took her life. I thought it would be simple like on the movies, and it was not. Reporter she then decided to work her way back. I kept saying this is not going to defeat me. Im going to prove to people that i can make it. Wow reporter she earned a nursing certificate, then a bachelor of science, a masters in social work and gerontology, and later a ph. D in public health. The key is not when you fall, it is how you get up after you fall. Ive had the vision of what it could be. Reporter at the age of 58 with no political experience, dr. Winn dixon ran for mayor of riverdale, georgia. And i won my whole campaign for 2,318. 57. Reporter she built the new city hall complex, cleaned up the city, and ran unopposed for her second term. Is it hard being the mayor . I dont think of myself as the mayor. I feel like im the mama of the county. If you walk up and want to hug me, i hug you back. Thank you. And i appreciate yall. Reporter there are millions and millions of women today who live on the edge of poverty. What would you say to them . Find something to believe in. And that it is not going to be sunny every day. Reporter at the age of 64, mayor win dixon says that she prays her life become answer example for others. I am the american dream. I am. So i made it. I might have been homeless, food stamps, section 8, and i still might be voluptuously fullfigured, but im here. Reporter maria shriver, nbc news, riverdale, georgia. That is our broadcast on a thursday night. Thank you for being here with us. Im brian williams. We hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. Good night. Nbc bay area news starts now. Right now, at 6 00, police say this is the man whod been torching one building after another in the south bay. Tonight nbc bay area uncovers a disturbing history and something that may have kent him one step ahead of the investigation. Thanks for joining us. Im jessica aguirre. We have new news about this arsonist. He does have a criminal past and now hes accused of terrorizing san jose, starting at least 12 fires over the last week. We have a look at his police record, but we begin live at the scene of one of last weeks fires which police say is one started by the suspect. Consider this was the biggest of the 12 arson fires. So far, the five alarm fire at the warehouse over near san hoe sigh high school. Tonight Good Community response and police work for the arrest. I open the door and theres a wall of flames. Reporter Police Say Surveillance videos like this one were key to identifying a suspect. In this case, it showed one intentionally starting a fire on jeffrey levines support of. For him to walk around with impunity is amazing to me. Reporter Police Believe they caught him. They arrested Patrick William brennan, a registered