NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Jan. 14

>>> TONIGHT THE FIERY. CONFIRMATION HEARING, PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S.

PICK FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY IS. GRILLED ON CAPITOL HILL. PETE HEGSETH, THE FIRST TRUMP. CABINET PICK ON THE HOT SEAT. BEFORE THE SENATE. THE ARMY, NATIONAL GUARD VETERAN. AND FORMER FOX NEWS HOST. CLASHING WITH DEMOCRATS, CLAIMING HE IS THE VICTIM OF A. SMEAR CAMPAIGN. AMID ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL. ASSAULT AND EXCESSIVE DRINKING. AND WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT WOMEN IN. THE MILITARY AFTER STATING IN. THE PAST THEY SHOULD NOT SERVE. IN COMBAT. THE NEW FIRE BREAKING OUT IN THE. LOS ANGELES AREA UNDER A RED.

FLAG WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS. CREWS ARE STILL BATTLING THE. BIGGEST INFERNOS AND WHAT IS. BEING LEARNED ABOUT WHAT SPARKED. THEM. THE FINAL SPECIAL COUNSEL REPORT. ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO. OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION. INSIDE IRAN, MY ONE-ON-ONE. CONVERSATION WITH THE IRANIAN. PRESIDENT. WE ASK HIM DIRECTLY DID IRAN. PLAN TO ASSASSINATE. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AND WILL. IT TRY IN THE FUTURE. ARE YOU WILLING TO PROMISE THERE. WILL BE NO ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE.

OF DONALD TRUMP? HOW HE ANSWERED AND HIS REACTION. TO THE POSSIBLE CEASE-FIRE. BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN-BACKED. HAMAS. AND PRINCESS KATE, THE GOOD NEWS. SHE IS ANNOUNCING ABOUT HER. BATTLE WITH CANCER. THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH. LESTER HOLT. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. THE POLITICAL WILL BEHIND. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S SECOND. CABINET IS GETTINGS IT FIRST. TEST. TO LISTEN IN ON THE SENATE. CONFIRMATION HEARING OF.

DECORATED COMBAT VETERAN AND. FORMER FOX NEWS HOST PETE. HEGSETH, YOU WOULD BE LEFT HE IS. UNFIT TO LEAD THE PENTAGON OR AN. EXCELLENT CHOICE. DEMOCRATS FOCUSING ON HEGSETH'S. PAST COMMENTS ABOUT WOMEN IN. COMBAT AS WELL AS ALLEGATIONS OF. SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND EXCESSIVE. DRINKING. HEGSETH SLAMMING THE ALLEGATIONS. AS FALSE CLAIMS AND PART OF A. SMEAR CAMPAIGN. LAWMAKERS ARE SHARPLY DIVIDED.

ALONG PARTY LINES. IN THE FIRST AND THE MOST. CONTENTIOUS CONFIRMATION HEARING. JUST SIX DAYS BEFORE TRUMP'S. INAUGURATION. THAT IS WHERE WE BEGIN TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S. EMBATTLED PICK TO LEAD THE. PENTAGON PETE HEGSETH IS MAKING. AN IMPASSIONED PITCH FOR THE. JOB. >> IT IS TIME TO GIVE SOMEONE. WITH DUST ON HIS BOOTS THE HELM. MY ONLY SPECIAL INTEREST IS THE. WAR FIGHTER. >> Reporter: ARGUING HE IS THE.

TARGET OF FALSE ATTACKS. >> THERE WAS A COORDINATED SMEAR. CAMPAIGN ORCHESTRATED IN THE. MEDIA AGAINST US. >> Reporter: HEGSETH FACING A. GRILLING FROM SENATE DEMOCRATS. OVER A 2017 SEXUAL ASSAULT. ALLEGATION. POLICE INVESTIGATED AND NO. CHARGES WERE FILED. LOCAL PROSECUTOR SAID NO CHARGES. WERE SUPPORTED BY PROOF BEYOND A. REASONABLE DOUBT. >> YOU ADMITTED IT WAS. CONSENSUAL, YOU WERE MARRIED AND. HAD A CHILD BY ANOTHER WOMAN. WHO YOU DO YOU EXPLAIN YOUR.

JUDGMENT. >> YOU HAVE ADMITTED YOU HAD SEX. WHILE YOU WERE MARRIED TO WIFE. TWO AFTER JUST FATHERING A CHILD. BY WIFE THREE. YOU ADMITTED IF. IF IT HAD BEEN A SEXUAL ASSAULT. THAT WOULD BE DISQUALIFYING TO. BE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. >> IF IT IS A FALSE CLAIM THEN. AND A FALSE CLAIM NOW. >> Reporter: REPUBLICANS. RALLYING TO HIS DEFENSE. >> WE NEED SOMEONE TO GO IN. THERE AND FIGHT FOR INNOVATION. AND CHANGE. I THINK YOU ARE THAT PERSON. I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO.

SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO SOME OF. THE UNDIGNIFIED ATTACKS. >> Reporter: DEMOCRATS GOING. AFTER HEGSETH'S PAST OPPOSITION. TO WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES. >> YOU HAVE TO CHANGE HOW YOU. SEE WOMEN TO DO THE JOB WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE CAPABLE. OF THAT. >> Reporter: IN A POSITIVE SIDE. FOR HEGSETH, A COMBAT VETERAN. PREVIOUSLY A SKEPTIC TODAY. >> WILL YOU SUPPORT WOMEN HAVING. THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO.

SERVE IN COMBAT ROLES. >> YES, EXACTLY THE WAY THAT YOU. CAVEATED IT. GIVEN THE STANDARDS REMAIN HIGH. >> THIS WAS SEEN AS A MAKE OR. BREAK MOMENT FOR HEGSETH. YOU HAVE NEW REPORTING ON THE. IMPACT OF ALL OF THIS. >> Reporter: TRUMP TRANSITION. OFFICIALS ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED. WITH HEGSETH'S PERFORMANCE. TODAY. IF ALL DEMOCRATS OPPOSE HIM HE. CAN ONLY AFFORD TO LOSE THREE. REPUBLICAN VOTES AND STILL BE.

CONFIRMED. HE THINKS HEGSETH IS ON TRACK. FOR THAT CONFIRMATION, POSSIBLY. AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. >> LET'S GET TO THE DEADLY. WILDFIRE EMERGENCY IN SOUTHERN. CALIFORNIA. A WEEK AFTER IT ALL BEGAN 13. MILLION PEOPLE BEGAN UNDER RED. FLAG WARNINGS TONIGHT AS HIGH. WINDS THREATENED THE REGION. AGAIN. LIZ KREUTZ HAS LATE DETAILS FOR. US. >> Reporter: FIRE RAVAGED LOS. ANGELES ON EDGE AS SOUTHERN. CALIFORNIA BRACES FOR ANOTHER.

EXTREME WIND EVENT. CITY OFFICIALS TELLING RESIDENTS. TO BE PREPARED TO EVACUATE AS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. ISSUES THE SAME HIGH THREAT. LEVEL ADVISORY THAT FUELED THE. PALISADES AND EATON FIRES. >> WE ARE TAKING AN AGGRESSIVE. LEAN-FORWARD POSTURE AND STAFFED. ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES. STRATEGICALLY PLACES FIRE. PATROLS AND ENGINES IN THE. UNIMPACTED HIGH RISK AREAS IN. THE CITY. >> Reporter: IN THE PAST WEEK 60. MILES ACROSS L.A. COUNTY HAS.

BEEN SCORCHED. EMBEDDED WITH CAL FIRE HERE TO. SEE THE CONDITIONS FROM THE AIR. >> YOU CAN SEE IT HERE. TEAMS ARE ATTACKING THESE FIRES. AND HOT SPOTS LIKE THIS ONE FROM. THE AIR EVERY CHANCE THEY GET. >> Reporter: TONIGHT OFFICIALS. SAY 37 PEOPLE REMAIN UNACCOUNTED. FOR AND 24 CONFIRMED DEAD. NOW GROWING SCRUTINY ABOUT HOW. THE FIRES STARTED. THIS VIDEO TAKEN BY ALTADENA. RESIDENT PEDRO ROJAS SHOWS A.

LARGE BLAZE BENEATH AN. ELECTRICAL TOWER UNDERNEATH THE. EATON FIRE. SOCAL EDISON HAS BEEN -- WHAT IS. THE PROOF YOU ARE POINTING TO. THAT IT STARTED AT THE. TRANSMISSION LINE? >> IN OUR COMPLAINT WE ALLEGE. VIDEOS, PHOTOGRAPHS, EYEWITNESS. TESTIMONY AND WE KNOW THEY HAVE. TOOLS LIKE PSPS. PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF THEY.

COULD HAVE USED AND CHOSE NOT. TO. >> Reporter: ANGELINA IS A PART. OF THE SUIT, A LONG TIME FEDEX. WORKER WHO LOST HER HOME. >> I WISH THEY SHUT EVERYBODY'S. POWER OFF EARLIER IN THE DAY. >> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT THE. UTILITY SAYS IT UNDERSTANDS. LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED AND. WILL REVIEW THEM. THEY POINT TO THE FACT THAT THE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE CONTINUES TO. BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN THE PALISADES FIRE OFFICIALS. ARE NOT RULING OUT ARSON AS THE.

CAUSE. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOPING THE. FEROCIOUS FLAMES WILL STAY AWAY. >> LIZ, OFFICIALS ARE WARNING. RESIDENTS ABOUT A HEALTH. EMERGENCY THERE AS WELL. TELL US ABOUT IT. THE>> Reporter: AIR QUALITY IS A. HUGE CONCERN. MILLIONS ARE UNDER A WIND BLOWN. DUST AND ASH ADVISORY WITH. OFFICIALS CONCERNED THE HIGH. WINDS WILL ALLOW THE DUST AND. DEBRIS TO TRAVEL, STAY INSIDE,

KEEP YOUR WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND. WEAR A MASK IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE. FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. >> LET'S GET RIGHT TO AL ROKER. THE SANTA ANA WINDS ARE STILL A. THREAT. >> AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER 24. HOURS, AND THEN WE WILL GET GOOD. NEWS. 13 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER THE RED. FLAG WARNINGS, PYRAMID LAKE, WESTLAKE VILLAGE TO THE NORTH OF. PASADENA. WINDS RIGHT NOW ARE HIGHER UP IN. THE MOUNTAINS. OVERNIGHT THE GUSTS ARE GOING TO.

INCREASE WITH LOW HUMIDITY. TOMORROW THEY START TO DIMINISH. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE 24. MORE HOURS WITH IMPROVING. CONDITIONS, BUT NO MATTER WITH. THE WINDS DYING DOWN IT IS BONE. DRY WITH ONLY 10% OF THE RAIN. THEY NEEDED TO GET SINCE. OCTOBER. >> AL ROKER, THANK YOU VERY. MUCH. HUNDREDS OF POLICE ENTERING THE. RESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA'S. PRESIDENT YUN, PUSHING THROUGH A. CROWD OF SUPPORTERS IN A SECOND.

ATTEMPT TO ARREST HIM. HE HAS BEEN HOLED UP IN THE. RESIDENCE FOR WEEKS AFTER BEING. IMPEACHED FOR HIS ATTEMPT TO. IMPOSE MARTIAL LAW. THE PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY. SERVICE HAS BEEN PROTECTING HIM. AND SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH'S. REPORT ON THE ELECTION. INTERFERENCE CASE AGAINST DONALD. TRUMP MADE PUBLIC SIX DAYS. BEFORE INAUGURATION. >> Reporter: SPECIAL COUNSEL. JACK SMITH PULLING BACK THE. CURTAIN ON THE HISTORIC. INVESTIGATION THAT LOOMED OVER.

THE PRESIDENT-ELECT. NEVER GOT TO A JURY. IN SMITH'S FINAL REPORT HE. WRITES PROSECUTORS AMASSED. ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO OBTAIN AND. SUSTAIN A CONVICTION AT TRIAL, ACCUSING DONALD TRUMP OF A. SERIES OF CRIMINAL EFFORTS TO. STAY IN OFFICE AFTER HE LOST THE. 2020 ELECTION. >> IT WAS FUELED BY LIES. IT WAS LIES BY THE DEFENDANT. TARGETED AT OBSTRUCTING A. BEDROCK FUNCTION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. >> Reporter: THE CASE NEVER GOT. VERY FAR, AND MR. TRUMP DENIED.

ANY WRONGDOING AND PLED IN THE. AS HIS ATTORNEYS DELAYED AT. EVERY STAGE. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FINALLY. AGREEING TO TOSS OUT THE. INDICTMENT AFTER HE WAS. REELECTED. SMITH LARGELY STAYED OUT OF. PUBLIC VIEW WHILE MR. TRUMP. ROUTINELY DIRECTED HIS IRE AT. THE PROSECUTE. POSTING TODAY --. >> WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO ME IN.

TERMS OF WEAPONIZATION, INDICTMENTS, IMPEACHMENTS AND. EVERYTHING ELSE. IN THE END IT PROBABLY HELPED. ME. >> Reporter: SMITH USING THE. FINAL REPORT TO LAY THE ATTACK. AT THE CAPITOL AT MR. TRUMP'S. FEET, JUST AS THE. PRESIDENT-ELECT IS DAYS AWAY. FROM BEING SWORN IN THERE. HE PLANS TO PARDON SOME RIOTERS. ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE. >> IN 60 SECONDS MY EXCLUSIVE. INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT OF. IRAN AND.

>>> WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT. THE POTENTIAL CEASE-FIRE DEAL. BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN-BACKED. HAMAS. A SENIOR OFFICIAL SAYING HAMAS. WOULD RELEASE 33 HOSTAGES IN THE. FIRST PHASE LASTING 42 DAYS. THE POTENTIAL DEAL IS AN. IMPORTANT TOPIC OF OUR INTERVIEW. EXCLUSIVE INSIDE IRAN WITH THAT. COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT YESTERDAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT TENSIONS.

WITH THE U.S. DAYS BEFORE. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TAKES. OFFICE. WE SPOKE VIA GOVERNMENT. INTERPRETER AND NBC NEWS. REVIEWED THE TRANSLATION INSPECT. -- INDEPENDENTLY. WE TRAVELLED TO IRAN FOR AN. INTERVIEW WITHES IT PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR. PRESIDENT? >> BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN. THE COUNTRY AND OTHER COUNTRIES. AROUND US. I DECIDED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

>> BUT TO THE INCOMING AMERICAN. PRESIDENT MANY PROBLEMS IN THE. MIDDLE EAST CENTERED AROUND. IRAN. IN HIS FIRST TERM. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP IMPOSED. SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. TO STOP IRAN FROM ACQUIRING A. NUCLEAR WEAPON AND PULLED OUT OF. THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR DEAL. WHILE THE NEW IRANIAN LEADER IS. PRESENTING HIMSELF AS A. REFORMER.

DONALD TRUMP TALKED ABOUT. INCREASED SANCTIONS, MAXIMUM. PRESSURES ON IRAN. DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR HIM? >> WHAT IS CLEAR THUS FAR THAT. WE ARE LIVING IN IRAN SINCE THE. BEGINNING THE UNITED STATES HAS. TRIED TO TOPPLE IRAN. I DO HOPE THAT TRUMP WILL. CONDUCE TO PEACE IN THE REGION. AND THE WORLD AND NOT CONVERSELY. CONTRIBUTE TO BLOODSHED AND WAR. >> ARE YOU WILLING TO HAVE. DIRECT AND OPEN TALKS WITH.

WASHINGTON AND WITH PRESIDENT. TRUMP? >> THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS. NOT IN DIALOGUE BUT IT IS IN THE. COMMITMENTS THAT ARISE FROM TALK. AND DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE TO. COMMIT TO. WE HELD TALKS WITH FIVE PLUS. ONE, LENGTHY TALKS. WE UPHELD ALL OF THE COMMITMENTS. THAT WE HAD TO COMMIT TO. BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS THE. OTHER PARTY THAT DID NOT LIVE UP. TO PROMISES AND OBLIGATIONS.

>> ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES. ARE BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT. WHETHER A MILITARY STRIKE. AGAINST IRAN MIGHT BE NECESSARY. TO STOPS IT NUCLEAR PROGRAM. IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN WHAT. WOULD IRAN'S REACTION BE? >> YOU SEE NATURALLY ENOUGH WE. WILL REACT TO ANY REACTION. WE DO NOT FEAR WAR, BUT WE DO. NOT SEEK IT. >> DO YOU THINK AN ATTACK. AGAINST IRAN IS LIKELY GIVEN THE. CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> I HOPE THIS WILL NOT. TRANSPIRE, BECAUSE IT WILL BE TO. THE DETRIMENT OF ALL OF THE. ACTORS, NOT ONLY MERELY US. >> PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP HAS. SAID, WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE. LIKELIHOOD OF WAR HE SAID. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. IT IS A LIKELY SITUATION. PRESIDENT MACRON OF RANCE SAID. WE ARE NEARING A POINT OF NO. RETURN. WHERE DO YOU THINK IT LEAVES THE. TENSION RIGHT NOW? >> THERE ARE TENSIONS. THEY SERVE NO PARTY'S INTEREST.

WHATEVER WE HAVE DONE SO FAR HAS. BEEN PEACEFUL. WE DO NOT SEEK TO CREATE NUCLEAR. WEAPONRY OR ARMORMENT. HOWEVER THEY ACCUSE OF SEEKING. THE MANUFACTURING OF A BOMB. THIS IS A SCHEME THEY ARE TRYING. TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO FABRICATE. SOME SORT OF A PRETEXT. THIS IS NOT TRUE. >> ALL OF IT HAPPENING AS U.S.

AND WESTERN OFFICIALS BELIEVE. THAT IRAN HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY. WEAKENED. THIS IS NOT THE SAME IRAN AS. WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS LAST. PRESIDENT. S IT INFLUENCE IN THE REGION HAS. BEEN DIMINISHED BY LOSSES AMONG. ALLIES AND PROXIES, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, THE FALL OF THE. SYRIAN GOVERNMENT. HAS THAT LEFT IRAN IN A WEAKER. POSITION? >> I DO NOT SEE ANY LINK HERE.

SOME OF THE FRIENDS MIGHT SEE A. LINK, BUT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. INSIDE OF THE COUNTRY WE ARE. MORE COHERENT AND WE ARE MORE. ROBUST AND WE HAVE BETTER. PARTICIPATION AND A MORE SOLID. SECURITY IN THE COUNTRY. >> THEN THERE IS THE IMPACT OF. WHAT U.S. PROSECUTORS SAY WAS A. PLOT BY IRAN TO KILL. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP BEFORE HIS. ELECTION WIN. ONE POTENTIAL THREAT TO. DIPLOMACY COULD BE SEEN AS WHAT. THE U.S. BELIEVES IS IRAN'S PLAN.

TO ASSASSINATE DONALD TRUMP. WAS THERE SUCH A PLAN? HE BLAMED ISRAEL AND OTHER. COUNTRIES. >> THIS IS YET ANOTHER SCHEME. THAT THE FOREIGNERS ARE. FOLLOWING IN ORDER TO FEED INTO. IRANAPHOBIA. >> YOU ARE SAYING THERE WAS. NEVER AN IRANIAN PLOT TO KILL. DONALD TRUMP? >> NEVER. >> THE NEXT QUESTION, ARE YOU.

WILLING TO PROMISE THERE WILL BE. NO ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF DONALD. TRUMP? >> EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING WE. NEVER INTENDED TO DO THAT. >> AND WE ASKED ABOUT A. POTENTIAL CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN. ISRAEL AND IRANIAN-BACKED HAMAS. DO YOU THINK THERE IS A ROLE FOR. IRAN TO BRING ABOUT THE PEACE. AND THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES? >> WE DO WHATEVER THAT WE CAN IN. ORDER FOR PEACE TO PREVAIL IN. THE REGION. WE WILL SPARE NO EFFORT IN ORDER.

FOR THE PRISONERS TO BE. RELEASED. >> PART OF MY INTERVIEW IN. TEHRAN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF. IRAN. NE. >>> WITH THE SUPREME COURT. EXPECTED TO RULE ANY DAY ON A. LAW THAT COULD BAN TIKTOK IN THE. U.S., SOME OF THE APPS' RIVALS. ARE SEEING A SUDDEN SURGE. >> WE ARE JUST GOING TO TIKTOK'S. OTHER APP.

>> Reporter: AMID FEAR A TIKTOK. BAN COULD TAKE EFFECT THIS WEEK, SOME AMERICANS FLOCKING TO. CHINESE APPS LIKE RED NOTE AND. LEMON8. BOTH APPS HAVE SIMILARITIES TO. TIKTOK AND LEMON8 SHARES A. PARENT COMPANY, BYTE DANCE. THE PLATFORM TOPPING APPLE'S. DOWNLOADS. SOME SAY IT IS A FORM OF. PROTEST. >> I GO INTO AN APP LIKE RED. NOTE. THEY ARE SAYING NO. NO. NO.

I AM IN CONTROL OF WHERE I GIVE. MY DATA. >> Reporter: SOME USERS. PROTESTING AMERICAN-OWNED META. >> YOU WILL NOT CATCH ME ON. INSTAGRAM REELS. >> Reporter: THE LAW FOCUSES ON. CONCERNS THAT CHINA COULD. MANIPULATE CONTENT AMERICANS. SEE. >> TIKTOK'S PARENT COMPANY. BYTEDANCE IS NAMED IN THE LAW. THE LAW IS NOT EXPECTED TO BLOCK.

OTHER APPS LIKE RED NOTE BUT IT. COULD. THEY COULD SELL TO AN AMERICAN. OWNER. QUESTION. QUESTIONS CIRCULATING WHETHER. ELON MUSK IS IN TALKS TO BUY IT. TIKTOK TELLS NBC NEWS THAT IS. PURE FICTION. >> AS WE CONTINUE, THE SPIRIT OF. PERS.

>>> A MAJOR UPDATE FROM PRINCESS. KATE. MONTHS AFTER FINISHING. CHEMOTHERAPY ANNOUNCING SHE IS. IN REMISSION FROM CANCER SAYING. THAT SHE FEELS FOCUSED ON. RECOVERY. AND AMID ALL OF THE DESTRUCTION. IN CALIFORNIA, ONE COMMUNITY IS. IN ASHES IS FIGHTING TO PRESERVE. THE PAST. GADI SCHWARTZ NOW WITH THE GOOD.

NEWS TONIGHT. >> Reporter: AS THE HISTORY OF. ALTADENA IS FOREVER CHANGED BY. FIRE,S IT CHARACTER IS BEING. SKETCHED BY AN ARTIST LEFT. WITHOUT A HOME. FOR MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY. ALTADENA HAS BEEN A BEACON OF. LIGHT ON THE HILL. ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES IN THE. 60s TO WELCOME BLACK AND BROWN. FAMILIES. THE TYPE OF PLACE YOU FIND. PEOPLE LIKE WALT BUTLER. >> THE PEOPLE IN ALTADENA ARE.

LIKE ONE GIANT FAMILY. >> Reporter: THE COMMUNITY. COMING TOGETHER, RAISING OVER. $800,000. HIS FIRST THOUGHT, A FOOD TRUCK. SO THAT HE CAN GIVE RIGHT BACK. >> A FOOD TRUCK. >> IT'S GOING TO BE FUNKY. >> Reporter: AT A BOOKSTORE. CALLED OCTAVIA'S BOOK SHELF. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR BOOKS, ONLY. DONATIONS. >> WE HAVE JUST BECOME THIS HUB. WHERE PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY NEED. >> Reporter: NAMED FOR A FAMED.

SCIENCE FICTION WRITER. HE WROTE ABOUT A GIRL IN 2025. FACING A FIRE FUELED BY. APOCALYPTIC CLIMATE CHANGE. GOD IS CREATIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE, DEMANDING AND YIELDING. GOD IS INFINITE POTENTIAL. GOD IS CHANGE. YOU GUYS ARE THE SEEDS OF. CHANGE. >> WE HOPE SO, YEAH.

>> Reporter: GADI SCHWARTZ, NBC. NEWS, ALTADENA. >> THAT IS "NIGHTLY NEWS".