right now on "america this morning," wildfire emergency. tens of thousands of people forced to evacuate in colorado. 100-mile-per-hour winds fanning the most destructive wildfire in the state's history. hundreds of homes destroyed. dramatic video coming in overnight. booster expansion. the fda likely to approve booster shots next week for younger people. it comes as cities cancel new year's events and covid infections reach new highs, plus the cdc's warning about cruises even if you're vaccinated. an abc news exclusive. ghislaine maxwell's brother speaking out about his sister's conviction. why he says the jury got it wrong. dramatic new video showing a tiger latching onto a man's arm at a zoo before deputies were

forced to shoot the animal. >> it was a tiger defense, not a tiger attack. >> now the raging debate. should the man be criminally charged. plus, why this coach is getting doused in mayonnaise. and the new year's eve staple that's proving hard to get ahold of on this december 31st, 2021. good morning, everyone. we begin with breaking news in colorado where a new year's eve disaster is unfolding right now. >> a wildfire has destroyed hundreds of homes in boulder county. it's already being called one of the most destructive wildfires in the state's history. video shows an apocalyptic scene as thousands evacuate the flames fueled by 100-mile-per-hour winds. investigators are looking at downed power lines as a possible cause. >> one hospital evacuated patients as the fire approached, and this video shows people

fleeing a chuck e. cheese after heavy smoke appeared in just a matter of minutes. overnight a state of emergency declared in colorado where multiple wind-fueled fires have burned hundreds of homes in boulder county. >> this is crazy. oh, my god. >> reporter: dry conditions and wind gusts topping 100 miles per hour providing the perfect conditions for the fires to spark and quickly spread. >> this is in the worst possible spot during the worst possible wintertime drought. >> reporter: residents forced to flee as the fire moved in. many given just minutes' notice, some even running from the flames. >> i have a party near the element hotel that is going to be trying to evacuate on foot towards you. they are actively running from fire behind them. >> reporter: all 13,000 residents in the town of superior told to leave immediately. shoppers evacuating this costco stepping into an apocalyptic scene of smoke and wind. a driver capturing this video in nearby lewisville, colorado. you can see as the smoky sky turns dark orange in a matter of

seconds. >> holy [ muted ]. >> reporter: robert gutierrez posting this video of him driving through the massive flames. more than 600 homes have been lost in boulder county along with a hotel and target store. the fire is now the most destructive in colorado history. this morning, an insurance agent in the area says she's already getting calls from people who have lost their homes. >> i took my first call from somebody who lost their home just a little bit ago. it's just something you don't plan on. it's just devastating to see this, and this time of year, you just never imagine having this happen in december. >> reporter: at least six people have been transported to the hospital. officials expect that number to grow. >> due to the magnitude of this fire, the intensity of this fire and its presence in such a heavily populated area, we would not be surprised if there are injuries or fatalities. >> it's just absolutely devastating video there. now, the national weather service has canceled all high

wind warnings for the area. we want to get you right there on the ground because overnight russell haythorn with our station in denver reporting on the devastation in lewisville, colorado. >> reporter: the police station is right up on this hill behind us, and then behind that, this fire continues tonight to pick off home after home after home after home on that ridge line. it's just relentless. it has been relentless all day. there is a glimmer of hope tonight. there is some good news in the fact that the winds have died down completely at this point. we're not dealing with any gusts. we're not even dealing with a light breeze at this point, so that is giving -- that is perhaps giving firefighters the leg up tonight, but it is a catastrophic situation here in lewisville. over in superior, we watched as a hotel there went up in flames. we watched neighborhoods go up in flames in superior as well. it's been a catastrophic day here in colorado. this is essentially suburban

denver on fire, and it's weird even saying that. it's weird reporting it. it's very sad. i feel a tremendous amount of grief for all those who have lost their homes tonight. >> you heard it right there. it is absolutely catastrophic and not lost on anyone is this is happening in the wintertime. >> that is right. as he mentioned, it is in suburban denver. before and been in an area with a wildfire, you know how fast it can move. it can easily jump highways, and this is being fueled by 100-mile-per-hour winds. >> and so many people there were caught off guard. want to thank our russell haythorn there. another large part of the country will be at risk for severe weather today. we'll have a closer look at your forecast. now the pandemic and the record number of pediatric cases in the u.s. on average nearly 380 children with covid are admitted to a hospital every day. that's more than at any time during the pandemic. the increase comes as the fda is likely to authorize boosters for 12 to 15-year-olds next week. abc's em nguyen joins us from

washington. em, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, mona. you know, we can expect holiday travel to get hit hard this new year's and not just the airlines. the cdc now warning people to completely avoid going on a cruise no matter your vaccination status raising the health notice to the highest level. this morning, urgent concerns on new year's eve as the u.s. breaks records once again averaging 316,000 new covid-19 cases a day, up nearly fourfold from a month ago. daily covid-related deaths averaging 1,100. hospitalizations climbing as well with 90,000 americans admitted with covid each day double from last month. top health officials advising against large holiday gatherings. >> that would be a risky situation that i would recommend against. >> reporter: pediatric cases are soaring with 380 children landing in the hospital a day, a 66% increase from about a week ago. >> you have an undervaccinated

or relatively unvaccinated population of children with a highly contagious virus, and this virus is seeking out the susceptible, and that is children. >> reporter: now abc confirming the fda is expected to expand pfizer boosters for ages 12 to 15, an authorization that may come as early as monday. this as travel frustrations rise. the federal aviation administration now warning severe weather and the pandemic are likely to trigger more delays as more employees test positive for covid. the ceo of jetblue saying staff sick calls are running up to 300% above normal. >> we are seeing a lot of people who are out sick but also people whose anxiety is rising again. >> reporter: new york state is seeing another record-breaking day of 74,000 new covid-19 cases, a testament to the pandemic not slowing down as we approach the new year. mona. >> all right, em, thank you. next ae manhunt under way for suspects in the killing of a

police sergeant in suburban chicago. a $25,000 reward is being offered to solve marlene rittmanic's death. investigators say rittmanic and her partner were ambushed when they arrived to a call at a hotel in bradley, illinois. her partner was critically wounded. a procession through three illinois communities honored rittmanic as her body was taken to a funeral home. residents of the town are stunned at her passing. >> i think everybody everywhere that knew her was like, oh, my god, how could this happen to her? emotionally, you want to cry, you know. you really do, but you just have to kind of be strong, you know. >> a $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the gunman. time now for a look at your new year's eve forecast. well, good morning to you once again. we are watching the winds whipping in out of the rockies.

they will subside throughout the day, but we've got the cold air to the north, the warm to the south. that will drive in the severe potential yet again from shreveport to nashville friday night into your saturday. snow that will lift throughout the great lakes into the northeast as we welcome the new year, but, hey, if you're going to be stepping out the door, get ready for some cold temperatures. minus 16 in minneapolis. new york, though, for the ball drop will be in the low 50s. for accuweather i'm meteorologist chris nallan. coming up, powerball fever heating up as a jumbo jackpot gets even bigger. also ahead, the trucker convicted in a deadly pileup has his 110-year prison sentence reduced. what victims' families are saying about the decision. and an abc news exclusive. ghislaine maxwell's brother speaking out about his sister's conviction. why he says the jury g

back now with a terrifying close call in the uk. a car crashed into a beer garden, smashing empty benches. the driver and a passenger fled the scene. the car was reportedly stolen. a major league call for tesla. two design flaws are affecting 475,000 vehicles. a defective latch may cause the front trunk to open while the car is opening. the other affects the rear view cameras. the controversial 110-year prison sentence has been commuted. he'll now spend a decade behind bars. but not everyone agrees. >> reporter: this morning, the houston truck driver who was

facing 110 years in prison for causing a deadly crash in colorado will now only spend ten years behind bars. >> we're grateful for the governor. yeah, when you take 100 years off a sentence, it's unprecedented. >> reporter: the governor of colorado commuting the sentence after a jury found him guilty for causing the explosive 2019 crash that killed four people and wounded several others. he claimed his brakes failed while going 85 miles an hour. the governor writing -- >> reporter: the district attorney says she's disappointed with what she calls the governor's premature decision, and will meet with the victim's families to support them in navigate thing unprecedented action and to ensure they're treated with fairness, dignity

and respect during this difficult time. the d.a. had asked the judge for a reduced sentence of 20 to 30 years, after a national outcry of support for him, who spoke in court during his trial. several protests and an online petition garnered nearly 5 million signatures for a lesser penalty. even the judge said he wouldn't have chosen the lengthy sentence, but his hands were tied under the state law. but some supported the original 110 years. >> for people to recognize that he was responsible for killing my husband gave me the chance to breathe. >> reporter: he will be up for parole in december 2026. >> andrea, thank you. the powerball jackpot is now $500 million, which means someone could celebrate 2022 as a newly minted millionaire. the next drawing is saturday,

new year's day. the powerball jackpot has been growing since october 4. chances in winning are 1 in s a chance. >> my new year's resolution is to become a millionaire. coming up, a real champagne supply shortage this new year's eve. and new video of a tiger atta such tree-mendous views.

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back now with a big mess for commuters in los angeles. a record rainfall causing flooding at union station. travelers were forced to wade through ankle deep streams of water. others stepping carefully and lifting suitcases to reach their destinations. next the fallout from the sex trafficking conviction of ghislaine maxwell. scrutiny is focused on prince andrew, a friend of maxwell and deceased sex offender jeffrey epstein. andrew is accused of sexually abusing one of epstein's alleged victims while she was underage. a claim andrew denies. andrew's attorneys want the civil suit thrown out. there is a hearing in the case on tuesday. meanwhile, in an exclusive interview maxwell's brother says she was denied a fair trial. >> i think that in this particular trial what we have seen is a tremendous swing towards victims' rights to the destruction in my view of the opportunity for a defendant to

have a fair trial, and i don't think that that's remotely in the interest of justice. >> kevin maxwell also believes his sister's conviction will be overturned on appeal. body camera video of the moments before a worker was mauled by a tiger in florida. investigators say the worker could be facing charges. here's abc's victor oquendo and a warning, the images may be difficult to watch. >> where are the tigers at? >> reporter: body camera video of florida deputies rushing in to the naples zoo where a tiger latched on to a man's arm. that was after he stuck it inside the enclosure. it's tough to watch. >> you got a tranquilizer? no? >> reporter: the man's arm bloodied, severely injured, he's begging deputies for help telling them to shoot the tiger. the deputy tries kicking and shaking the enclosure trying to get the tiger to release the man before firing a single bullet hitting the animal who then retreats. >> i know i had to shoot it. i don't know where i hit it. >> reporter: the collier county

sheriff's office identifying the man as 26-year-old river rosenqvist who called 911 himself. >> i'm being attacked by a tiger. please, please, please. >> reporter: rosenquist was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. authorities say he was a member of a cleaning service and was either petting or feeding the animal, both of which are unauthorized. >> it's a male tiger defending his territory. it was a tiger defense, not a tiger attack. >> reporter: a veterinarian examined the 8-year-old endangered malayan tiger seen here on the zoo's website and determined it died from the gunshot. is there anything else that the deputies may have been able to do in that spot? >> that deputy did the absolute right thing at the right time. there is no animal life more important than the human life. >> reporter: the cleaning service is responsible for the restrooms and gift shop. not the animal enclosures. tonight there is no update on that man's condition.

an investigation is under way to determine if criminal charges bill be filed. victor oquendo, abc news, miami. >> and we will stay on top of that story for you. thank you, victor. coming up, the push to make pluto a planet again. also ahead, from french fries to mayonnaise, the bizarre new celebrations at college bowl games. that's next. find your rhythm. your happy place. find your breaking point. then break it. every emergen-c gives you a potent blend of nutrients

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wind