An unbreakable bond, inspiring america. Nightly news begins right now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening, there was so little time to flee as near 90mileanhour wind gusts and plunging humidity set a wildfire exploding overnight into a deadly and destructive rampage outside gatlinburg, tennessee. Fleeing with little more than the clothes on their back. This evening, scores of homes and businesses are left in smouldering ruins. We learned today, at least three people have been killed. Its happening southeast of knoxville, around the popular resort areas of tennessees great smokey mountains. Thats where Kerry Sanders has the latest. Wow. Reporter the fire storm exploded in seconds. Hit the gas, hit the gas reporter residents and vacationers thought they were safe, until they looked out their windows. Panic. We could feel the heat coming off it was nothing but red. Oh, my god, its so hot. Reporter the escape was complicated by narrow mountain roads clogged with traffic, flames everywhere. Michael reed separated from his wife and two children in the chaos. Tonight unsure if constance, 12yearold chloe and 9yearold lily are alive. She called from the house phone and said our house and she didnt know what to do. I told her to call 911 and get out. That was the last time i heard from her. Reporter tonight with the fire still burning, authorities are beginning to assess the damage. Entire neighborhoods destroyed. 14,000 ordered to evacuate. 2,000 fled to shelters. At least 150 structures damaged or destroyed. Gatlinburg is a resort town about an hour tourist destinations. The great smokey mountains, the most visited park in the country. An aquarium with 10,000 animals, and dollywood theme park. Dollywood was spared, but this week, dolly, who released a Public Service announcement about wildfires, said shes heartbroken and praying for all the families. At the park vista hotel, the fire trapped dozens of guests. Mike and Julie Sanders got marrie unimaginable. This whole place is on fire. How would you describe this . The gates of hell. The gates of hell . Reporter driving the fire, a record drought and wind gusts nearly 90 miles an hour. Tonight, officials are investigating the cause of the fire and have not ruled out arson. There are hot embers in the devastation here and that is a concern tonight. Because while the air is calm right now, its predicted that the winds will pick up hour, can carry a hot ember miles from here, igniting another part of the smokey mountains. Lester . All right, Kerry Sanders tonight, thank you. Tonight, crash investigators in colombia have released a photograph of the black boxes from the plane that was carrying a Brazilian Soccer Team to a south American Championship playoff in medellin. Of the 77 people on board, six survived the crash, including just three team members. Nbcs tom costello reports on the tragedy and what may have caused the crash. Reporter the video and photos from the airport and then the plane are haunting. The young faces of Brazils Chapecoense soccer club, an underdog dream team, headed to the championship matches. But only hours later, tragedy. Daylight revealed the broken remains of the chartered plane, scattered across the hillside outside medellin. Slowly helicopters approach the site to remove the dead. Board, only 7 were found alive. One of them, 31yearold goalie, Marcos Danilo died at the hospital but called his wife before passing away. Another player had just learned he was going to be a father. In the teams locker room today, three teammates who didnt make the trip were in disbelief. Amid vigils and moments of silence worldwide, soccer great pele said simply, brazilian football is in mourning. Translator everybody has placed god that things will go well for us. Our chapecoense team will have to go on. It is difficult, it is so difficult to speak. Reporter the plane was a British Aerospace 146, a regional jet with four engines used mostly for short distance flights. But flying from bolivia to medellin, the pilot reported an electrical problem and circled before crashing miles from the airport. One of the considerations investigators will look at is if the airplane was too low on fuel, because it was right at its attendant told rescuers, the plane had run out of fuel. Accompanying the team on the plane, 21 journalists, hoping to cover a fairy tale ending for a team that had surpassed all expectations, only to end in tragedy. Late word that surgeons had to amputate the right leg of surviving goalkeeper jackson follmann. Meanwhile, the Colombian Team that was scheduled to play against the brazilians today asked the south confederation to award the championship title to their brazilian competitors. Lester . Tom costello, thank you. Now to the investigation at ohio state where the fbi is trying to determine what set off a student to plow his car into a crowd, then go on a horrific stabbing spree yesterday. Was there a connection to isis, or any other terror group . Nbcs Stephanie Gosk has more. Reporter tonight the fbi is poring over abdul artans laptop and other digital devices. Law enforcement tells terror groups, disputing a claim from the Islamic State media arm that he was working with them. Authorities say they also have no reason to think his family knew what he was planning. Artan smashed his car into an osu sidewalk and stabbed people with a butcher knife that Authorities Say he bought that morning at a local walmart. Law enforcement officials also say a post was left on his facebook page, expressing anger over attacks on muslims worldwide. Live right next door to that. And didnt even know. Reporter neighbor Louann Carnahan was in shock. Very nice people. The boy was very pleasant. Reporter artans family fled somalia in 2007, lived in pakistan until 2014, when they moved to the United States. This is artan celebrating his graduation from Community College just last spring. Neighbors and friends say he was a devout muslim. Amir kadar prayed with did he sound frustrated with the country . No. At all. He actually loved america. He loved the fact of the opportunity he had here to go to school. Reporter but police say artan attacked that school. Flipped me up in the air. Reporter Professor William clark said he thought it was a Traffic Accident at first. But then several people started shouting immediately. Reporter tonight, only three of the 11 injured are still in the hospital. Stephanie gosk, nbc ne evening of cabinet picks from president elect donald trump. Nbc news has learned Steven Mnuchin is expected to be named trumps pick for treasury secretary as soon as tomorrow. And investor wilbur ross is expected to be his pick to lead the commerce department. Elaine chao, wife of Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell is trumps pick for transportation secretary. Price, major opponent of obamacare is trumps pick for secretary of health and human services. We have a lot more on that in just a moment. But first, the president elect is overshadowing his own cabinet picks with his threat today about jailing or perhaps revoking citizenship for people who burn American Flags in protest. That, experts say, would be unconstitutional. We get details on this new firestorm from nbcs hallie jackson. Reporter the president elect, today proposing punishment for a form of protest though not popular. One flag was set on fire. One was reporter not long after this segment about a College Protest in which an American Flag was burned, a trump tweet. Quote, nobody should be allowed to burn the American Flag. If they do, there must be consequences, perhaps loss of citizenship, or year in jail. But burning the flag is a form of free speech under the first amendment, upheld twice by the Supreme Court. In this country, we have a long tradition the Supreme Courts decision on that matter. Reporter its not that americans like flagburning. In fact, before those court rulings, 48 of 50 states had laws banning it. In 2005, Hillary Clinton backed a bill that would jail flagburners. Still to some, more troubling than trumps threat to imprison protesters who burn the flag, is his suggestion of stripping citizenship. That would also be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has ruled that taking someones citizenshi away cant be used as a punishment. That citizenship isnt a license that expires when someone commits a crime. Reporter now even newt gingrich, a high profile trump ally says hes got his own concerns about certain trump tweets, like a recent one on voter fraud, pointing to the different weight of a president s words, versus a candidates. President s of the United States cant randomly tweet without having somebody check it out. The president elect also on twitter to promote what hes tour, kicking off thursday in cincinnati. He seemed to enjoy the energy of those Campaign Rallies as candidate. Now as president elect, lester, packing his bags to get back on the road. All right, hallie jackson, thank you. Lets turn back to the president elects pick for health and human services. Its shining a spotlight on the coming effort to repeal and replace obamacare. The question for millions who depend on it, what next . Nbcs Kristen Welker has that story years ago, georgia congressman tom price has been proposing ways to dismantle it. A mandate that the government tells you what kind of health care youve got to have . Is that what you want . No reporter now as president elect trumps pick for secretary of health and human services, he has his chance. Mr. Trumps promise to eliminate obamacare could leave the 28 Million People currently enrolled, in limbo. He says obamacare has helped him manage his diabetes. And while mr. Trump has said hes open to protecting those with preexisting conditions, koons isnt convinced. Its about trying to stay alive. I cant live without insulin. Its not a choice that i have insulin. I either get it or i die. Reporter kate gonzedo is worrying too, wondering if her Birth Control plan will be scrapped. If obamacare is repealed. So she opted for a longer lasting iud. I made the appointment right after the election, because of provided to me in the next four years. Reporter jim harrell says his Virginia Beach community has been hit hard by the rising cost of premiums under obamacare, an average of 10 in the state. Anything would be better than obamacare. Anything . Anything. Reporter but will mr. Trump and congressman tom price be able to turn their promises for better, more Affordable Health care into reality . Talking about repealing the Affordable Care act is the easy part. Replace it and how to deal with the 20 Million People who have already been covered by the law, is going to be really tough. Reporter adam koons just hopes they keep people like him in mind, while crafting an alternative. Kristen welker, stone ridge, virginia. There was emotional testimony today in the trial over a Deadly Police shooting caught on camera. A former South CarolinaPolice Officer taking the stand in his own defense, accused of gunning down a nbcs Gabe Gutierrez has more on the drama in the courtroom and the video that stunned the nation. Reporter this bystanders dramatic cell phone video last year, appeared to show walter scott being shot in the back multiple times. Today in a charleston, South Carolina, courtroom, the former officer accused of scotts murder, gave his first detailed public account of what happened. I fired until the threat was stopped, like im trained to do. Slager said he pulled scott over for a broken tail light of in april of 2015 and was preparing to write him a warning, but scott bolted from his car. In my mind, at that time, people dont run from a broken tail light. Reporter prosecutors say he fled because he was behind on Child Support payments and feared being arrested. Slager told the jury he fired his taser three times, but that doesnt stop scott from grabbing the stun gun. I was in total fear th seconds later as scott breaks away from the struggle. The prosecutor pressed slager on why he moved the taser closer to scotts body. You dont leave a weapon in the middle of a field like that. Reporter slager now says in hindsight, he would not have chased scott on foot in the first place and instead called for backup. His entire testimony was what he would have done different and things hes remembering now that he didnt remember then, which was just shocking. People and one black man, is expected to begin deliberations later this week. Gabe gutierrez, nbc news. Still ahead here tonight, detecting breast cancer, the Alarming Number of women being diagnosed without the most common symptom. And one survivor who says a Second Opinion saved her life. [ cough ] shh. I have a cold with this annoying runny nose. Better take something. Dayquil liquid gels doesnt treat a runny nose. It doesnt . Before i had the shooting, burning, pinsandneedles of diabetic nerve pain, these feet. Kicked off a lot of high school games. Built a life for my family. And liked to help others in need. Diabetic nerve pain any longer. So i talked to my doctor and he prescribed lyrica. Nerve damage from diabetes causes diabetic nerve pain. Lyrica is fdaapproved to treat this pain, from moderate to even severe diabetic nerve pain. Lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. Or swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, muscle pain with fever, tired feeling or blurry vision. And swelling of hands, legs, and feet. Dont drink alcohol while taking lyrica. Dont drive or use machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. Those who have had a drug or alcohol problem may be more likely to misuse lyrica. Now i have less diabetic nerve pain. And its great to help others get back on their feet. Ask your doctor about lyrica. Back now with a warning about detecting breast cancer. The most common symptom women report are lumps in the patients have symptoms other than lumps which can be more difficult to identify. Nbcs Kristen Dahlgren with more on the subtle signs you should be watching out for. Do you want your reins tied . Reporter in 2014, beth laflor did something that may have saved her life. Is it a miracle that youre here . Perhaps. Pretty close. Reporter she noticed a change in her breasts. Not a lump. I would describe it as a thickening. And thats what caught my attention initially. Had a routine screening mammogram. It was negative. Reporter nothing . Nothing. That allows you to go a little longer. Reporter but the nurse who works as a lactation consultant couldnt ignore the changes to the shape of her breast, so she got another opinion from dr. Deborah rhodes at the mayo clinic. Theres a very bright area in the center of her left breast, and this correspondents to the imaging showed stage three breast cancer, beneath dense breast tissue. A new study in england showed 1 in 6 patients have symptoms other than a lump. What this new study tells us, is, its profoundly important to be aware of your breasts, to be familiar with your breasts, even outside of a ritual monthly selfbreast exam. Reporter in other words, know your own body. Dr. Rhodes said remember the word n. A. P. S. , which stands for changes to the nipple, armpit, any pain, and changes to the skin or shape. Be more subtle to someone who doesnt know you as well as you know yourself. Reporter beth is now two years cancerfree, loving every second with her granddaughter. And all the milestones she might have missed if she had missed the subtle signs of her cancer. Good job. Reporter Kristen Dahlgren, nbc news, rochester, minnesota. Up next, the factor that could make you eight times more likely to have a major. At t. Rowe price. Weve helped our investors stay confident for over 75 years. Call us or your advisor. T. Rowe price. Invest with confidence. When a moment spontaneously turns romantic, why pause to take a pill . Or stop to find a bathroom . Cialis for daily use is approved to treat both erectile dysfunction and the urinary symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently, day or night. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, or adempas for pulmonary hypertension, as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Do not drink alcohol in excess. Side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. To avoid longterm injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. If you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or any symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. Ask your doctor about cialis and a 200 savings card. Theres Alarming Health news tonight if you or someone you love is a smoker. A new study shows that smokers under the age of 50 are over eight times more likely to have a major heart attack than nonsmokers. Researchers found this age group of smokers is the most vulnerable of any group. Its beginning to look a lot like christmas at the white house. Today First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled this years decorations. Families of u. S. Service members invited for an early view. Part of the theme includes a lot of legos. A team of master lego builders spent 500 hours designing and building the decorations. 200,000 legos in all. Theres a whole lot to celebrate this Holiday Season for 20 coworkers from tennessee who just hit a massive jackpot. Today the group claimed a 420 million prize. The cash value is worth 254 million, meaning about 12. 7 million apiece before taxes. Amazing. Nbc nightly news is brought to you by the salvation army. Nbc nightly news is brought t [burke] at farmers, weve seen almost everything, [dad] alright, buddy, dont forget anything [kid] i wont, dad. [captain rod] happy Tuesday Morning captain rod here. Its pretty hairy out on the interstate. Traffic is literally crawling, but there is some movement on the eastside overpass. Getting word of another collision. [burke] it happened. December 14th, 2015. And we covered it. Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. . We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum . Um. Something wrong . So when it comes to pain relievers, why put up with just part of a day . You want the whole thing . Yes, yes live whole. Not part. Aleve. Hi hey you look good. Thank you, i feel good. It all starts with eating right. Thats why i eat amaz n prunes now. Theyre delicious and help keep my body in balance. I love these. Sunsweet amaz n prunes, the feel good fruit. My heart beats one hundred thousand times a day, so i can lift even the most demanding weight. Take care of all your most important parts with centrum. Now verified non gmo and gluten free. I have asthma. One of many pieces in my life. So when my asthma symptoms kept coming back on my longterm control medicine. I talked to my doctor and found a missing piece in my asthma treatment with breo. Oncedaily breo prevents asthma symptoms. Breo is for adults with asthma not well controlled for sudden breathing problems. Breo opens up airways to help improve breathing for a full 24 hours. Breo contains a type of medicine that increases the risk of death from asthma problems and may increase the risk of hospitalization in children and adolescents. Breo is not for people whose asthma is well controlled on a longterm asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Once your asthma is well controlled, your doctor will decide if you can stop breo and prescribe a different asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. Do not take breo more than prescribed. Rse. Ask your doctor if 24hour breo could be a missing piece for you. See if youre eligible for finally tonight, two best friends taking social media by storm. A boy and his dog, bringing smiles to tens of thousands with their adorable pictures. Now theyre part of a mission to help other kids that need a place to call home. Harry smith has more in our latest installment of inspiring america. Reagan, come here. Reporter as dogs go, reagan is a true ham. Hey, reagan, what a good boy. Reporter always cameraready. Besty, 3yearold buddy. Here you go. Reporter buddy. Not his real name. Is a foster child living in oregon. I started calling him reagans little buddy, because thats who he was. Reporter the dog belongs to buddys foster grandparents. Together the boy and the dog are nothing short of adorable. There was an instant bond. They loved each other from day one. Reporter the photos never show a clear view of buddys face for his followers. Because of that, foster grandma sandy had an idea, a book. I felt like, its a story that needs to be told. In addition to cute pictures. The good that theyve been able to do for each other. And for foster kids everywhere. Reporter the proceeds will go to a nonprofit that supports foster caregivers, like buddys foster mom, cary lewis. Been one of the hardest but absolute best things that weve ever done. Reporter there are more than 400,000 foster children in the United States. With more than 100,000 awaiting placement. The pictures tell you a lot about love, and joy, and sharing. Its such a powerful connection. Reporter who knows . Maybe you know a dog who needs a new friend. Thats going to do it for us on a tuesday night. Im lester holt. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and goodnight. Watching and all i can do is give you my story as a Evan Rachel Wood summons up the courage to share her truth. Why the west world star decided she would no longer hide her secret of not one but two sexual