but unfortunately, they're not recyclable. but they are reusable because one of the active ingredients in hand warmers is activated charcoal. activated charcoal is also a natural deodorizer. so imagine stinky workout sneakers. all you have to do is slip in your hand warmers that are no longer warm. and that activated charcoal is going to go right to work to make them smell odor free. drew: thank you so much, everybody. we make the show for you. so take it with you. [audio logo] [audio logo] >> norah: tonight, los angeles braces for fierce winds. how new, dangerous conditions could impact the efforts to contain the blazes. >> we are making urgent preparations. >> norah: plus, as the death toll rises, we remember those killed. tonight, the search for missing loved ones.

killed. describe how horrific it was. >> norah: on the brink. our new reporting on a possible ceasefire and hostage release as president biden delivers his final foreign policy address. >> we are working urgently to close this deal. >> norah: and confirmation hearings for president-elect trump's cabinet picks are set to get underway. what you need to know. the "cbs evening news" starts now. good evening. i'm norah o'donnell, and as we come on the air there are new risks tonight in southern california as worsening conditions threaten the progress battling the devastating wildfires. the national weather service is issuing an ominous pds morning, that means "particularly dangerous situation", and it's all because santa ana winds are expected to bring gusts as high as 70 miles per hour. why is this concerning? the alert level was the same as it was last tuesday when those

hurricane-force winds whipped up the palisades and eaton fires. at least two dozen people have died in those blazes and more than 12,000 homes, businesses, and other structures were destroyed. the fires have burned nearly 40,000 acres, an area nearly the size of washington, d.c. tonight, we have a team of correspondents across the fire zone, and will begin with cbs's jonathan vigliotti on the investigation into what sparked these fires. good evening, jonathan. i understand you have new information tonight. >> reporter: good evening, norah. residents of pacific palisades recorded videos of a new year's eve fire on the hillside behind me. while the source of the palisades fire is still unconfirmed, cbs news has analyzed maps, photos, and videos to link the palisades fire to the very same location. as the palisades fire roared back to life this weekend, there's a renewed focus on what may have caused the massive blaze that's destroyed thousands of structures. cbs news has obtained video this

8-acre blaze on new year's eve. it's in the same area where the palisades fire later ignited. firefighters noted the connection. >> the foot of the fire started real close to where the last fire was on new year's eve. >> reporter: officials said they have not ruled out whether embers from the new year's eve fire sparked back up. in the first hour of the palisades fire, we reported from near the same location. today, we found the scene surrounded by police tape. it's happened before. the maui fire that destroyed lahaina was stoked by a wildfire that was declared out six hours earlier. and this fire, the most destructive in colorado history, began when a small fire reignited after six days. 1,000 structures were destroyed. now, with potentially destructive winds but starting again, l.a. officials are warning residents, be prepared to leave immediately, but the city has not issued any new guidelines, even after last week's chaotic evacuations. >> ahead of this latest event

you have businesses that are practically closing, essentially treating this event like it was a hurricane or a blizzard. if they are taking those steps, why are you not implementing broader closures right now to keep your constituents safe? >> we are doing everything we can to keep angelenos safe. if there is a need for closures, that will be done, but right now we are in preparation for tomorrow. >> reporter: that preparation includes a massive influx of boots on the ground. more than 15,000 firefighters are now in place, compared to fewer than 1500 when the fires started. >> all fire departments and all law enforcement agencies in the area will be prepared. >> reporter: and that preparation has already paid off. with an all-out aerial assault over the weekend of water and flame retardant, we saw only one home burned, but so many others were saved. and wind gusts are expected to exceed 70 miles per hour. that's enough to fan any

hot spot, and there are many of them, into a massive blaze, norah. >> norah: jonathan vigliotti, thank you for your tireless reporting. while wind conditions allow more than 80 planes and helicopters are being used to battle the southern california wildfires, military aircraft have flown into help from canada, nevada, wyoming, and colorado. tonight, cbs's rob marciano shows us the impact of fighting fire from the sky. >> reporter: the aerial attack to beat back the wildfires is now at a critical stage. as santa ana winds return, new fires could explode. the attack from above is crucial to knock down any blaze and more large aircraft have arrived on scene. these c-130 military transport planes have been modified specifically to fight wildfires. on this c-130, the door where paratroopers would normally jump out of the aircraft has been modified with this giant water can. blasting out 3,000 gallons of water in just five seconds, they

also drop red fire retardant, which now coats some l.a. neighborhoods. canadian-made amphibious aircraft, known as super scoopers, able to scoop up 1600 gallon in one 12-second skim off the pacific ocean and dump it on the flames. lieutenant colonel laura lieutenant colonel laura laura jeffrey's, a pilot with the guard. trying to get as close to the point is you can? 150 feet? that sounds very dangerous to me. >> it is, it's the most dangerous flying we do. >> reporter: rotary aircraft can get even closer the flames. this is one of cal fire's newest helicopters, a modified blackout that can hold up to a thousand gallons of water, flied day or night. it is essential to fighting fire, but as these winds ramp up, it's not going anywhere. zach boyce coordinates flight ops during the mission. you feel pressure from the ground and where they need your help? >> i think there is always pressure, we want to get out there and support the guys on the ground as much we can but we also need to have a good safety

sense in mind. >> reporter: they want to get out there but the threshold is more than just wind, it is terrain, it's turbulence. certainly the fixed aircraft like the one behind me are more stable. there are eight of these across four states and they are all here in one place, that is unprecedented, and even they may be grounded if the wind gets high enough. let's talk about that. we've got the red flag warning that you mentioned, pds morning in this area, ventura as well. from santa barbara all the way down to san diego, tomorrow will be a dangerous day. the wind will be building, 30, 40-plus-mile-an-hour wind, we will see them continue to build to 50, 60, maybe even 70 miles an hour by about noontime tomorrow. low-level humidities, not just critical fire danger, but extremely critical fire weather danger here in ventura and northern parts of los angeles county. it has been a long week but the next 24 hours, once again, are going to be very dangerous across southern california. >> norah: frightening situation, rob marciano. thank you very much. at least 24 people have died in these fires so far, including

these six victims, and as their loved ones deal with the agony of loss, there are other families suffering from the agony of the unknown. nearly two dozen people are missing, most from the site of the eaton fire. cbs's elise preston reports. >> reporter: amid the devastation, authorities are carrying out the grim task of searching for those who died. >> unfortunately, every day we are doing this, we are running across the remains of individual community members. >> reporter: the days have been agonizing for families of the missing, including those looking for miva friedli. >> we want to find her. >> reporter: family members said they have not heard from the 86-year-old grandma and mother who immigrated to the u.s. from costa rica and has lived in the same altadena home for 50 years. betty brown is her niece. calling people and checking to see where they are? >> we were just calling people and we realized, wait a minute,

what happened to miva? >> reporter: they live within blocks of each other. her nephew, victor wheetley, went to see if his aunt was okay during the initial moments of the fire, never imagining flames would sweep through the community. >> reporter: what was the last thing she said when he went to check on her? >> she was just so appreciative that we came at how much she loved us. if i had known what i known now, i would've gotten her out of the house. >> reporter: frantic relatives say they've been looking everywhere for miva. even in the rubble where her house once stood. >> you're just trying to find this person. you're seeing nothing, you are seeing a lot of ash, smoke, stuff, but no person. >> we want to find her and there's a hopeful way and then there's a way of reality. but we need to know. >> reporter: the family has lost seven homes in the fire and it's displaced 21 relatives, but they can't even focus on those losses until they know what happened to their loved one. norah. >> norah: just heartbreaking.

elise preston, thank you so much. turning now to the middle east. today, president biden said a temporary ceasefire deal for gaza is on the brink of being finalized as negotiations continue in qatar. senior israeli officials tell cbs news they've agreed to a six week truce. 33 of their hostages would be released, as would some palestinians now held in israeli jails. the israeli military would establish a buffer zone in southern gaza for security purposes. hamas leadership has yet to sign off on the deal. the president's comments on gaza, as he aims to improve his image and tell foreign policy achievements. he said america is stronger now on the global stage then it was four years ago. here's cbs's ed o'keefe. >> reporter: president biden today claimed the country is stronger because of his efforts to expand nato, support ukraine, withdraw forces from afghanistan, and take on china. >> these are not partisan, they are american. they benefit all americans.

>> reporter: word of a potential ceasefire in gaza would help resolve one of the major remaining challenges of the biden years. >> i've learned in many years of public service to never, never, never, ever give up. >> reporter: it's a sign of potential hope for a region mired in war and human suffering since the october 7th, 2023, hamas attack on israel. more than 46,000 a list indians have been killed according to the home ice-1 palestinian ministry of health. >> the palestinians deserve peace and the right to determine their own future. israel deserves peace and real security. >> reporter: the conflict jolted presidential campaign. many progressive democrats upset biden continued to send arms to israel while also complaining about the aggressive military tactics. the president discussed the deal with prime minister benjamin not on sunday and president trump has now joined the talks of the region. he's demanding the release of

the hostages before his inauguration. >> if they are not backed by the time i get into office, all hell will break out in the middle east. >> reporter: today, biden acknowledged his legacy, especially in the middle east and ukraine, may now be shaped by trump. if. >> my and administration is leaving the next demonstration with a very strong hand to play, and we are leaving them in america with more friends and stronger alliances. >> reporter: in his remarks in afghanistan the president only briefly mentioned the 13 u.s. service members that died in the u.s. suicide bombings of the kabul airport. widely seen as one of the darkest moments of his presidency. norah. >> norah: ed o'keefe at the white house. thank you, ed. in just seven days, donald trump begins his second term as president and there's a flurry of activity this week as confirmation hearings began for a dozen of his picks for top jobs. cbs's nancy cordes reports on one nomination facing trouble. >> i'm 110% behind pete hegseth.

>> reporter: in the senate version of a pep rally, alabama republican tommy tuberville sought to boost pete hegseth's chances, praising him alongside some former navy seals. >> pete is definitely that breath of fresh air when it comes to the department of defense. >> reporter: tomorrow, the former fox news host will undergo a grilling by members of the senate armed services' committee who want to know more about allegations of past excessive drinking, sexual misconduct, and financial mismanagement at a pair of veterans groups from which he was let go. democrats are pushing for access to the fbi's background checks. so far, as per tradition, that information has only been shared with committee leaders. >> i'm told they may well have not interviewed his ex-spouses or the accuser. i think that is a gap in the fbi report, if true. >> reporter: hegseth has

denied any sexual misconduct. >> the matter was fully investigated and i was completely cleared. >> reporter: and says he won't drink at all if confirmed. does he have your vote for tomorrow? >> he does unless there is something that comes up that we don't know. >> reporter: he is one of a dozen trump picks that had hearings scheduled over the next three days. some, like florida senator marco rubio, up for of state, are expected to sail through. here in florida today, a federal judge cleared the way for the release of part of special counsel jack smith's report. the report details the investigation into trump's alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. norah. >> norah: nancy cordes, thank you. the frightening close call between two planes. that's next. that's next.

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air traffic control audio. >> reporter: delta flight 1070 from detroit with 245 passengers on board received an alert to take immediate evasive action, as did united flight 1724 with 129 people aboard coming in from san francisco. at their closest points, they were about 425 feet apart vertically and seconds later were less than a quarter of a mile horizontally. according to flight data. the faa is investigating, they confirmed this close call they are looking into what amounts to a loss of separation between aircraft. >> norah: frightening indeed. kris van cleave, thank you. eye on america is next looking into the link between severe weather and wildfires. ♪ ♪ es.

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tonight digs into the connection between extreme weather and natural disasters. 2024 was the hottest year on record. now, not even two weeks into the new year, we are watching strong winds and extremely dry conditions fuel historic wildfires that are destroying large swaths of los angeles. tonight, cbs's tom hanson has a look at what this current disaster tells us about future threats. >> reporter: it's an all-too-familiar scene by now. people running for their lives from unrelenting flames. >> we've never really been evacuated but we kind of just figured it was going to blow over. it blew over, all right. >> reporter: crystal scott grew up playing in the picturesque send gabriel picturesque san gabriel mountains. her childhood home at the base was 1 of thousands destroyed in the eaton fire. >> very devastated because our families worked hard to put us here. >> reporter: and while it's the

realization of a dream, it's also highly problematic, as urban sprawl has crept into previously-wild areas. >> i think a lot of it has to do with global warming. >> we did once upon a time have four seasons, and that all stopped. >> reporter: these neighborhoods tucked into the foothills of los angeles could have survived this weather whiplash, but with climate change, the rainy seasons are more intense, the dry seasons last longer. in fact, the last time los angeles saw even an inch of rain was around easter last year and long-term weather models don't call for any rain coming here anytime soon. could this have been prevented? >> no. >> reporter: ucla professor stephanie pincetl points to a series of fires in the west. three years ago the marshall fire near denver snaked down a hill, growing from a grass fire into the most destructive in colorado's history, incinerating more than 1,000 suburban homes. and in 2013, the arnell hill fire in arizona killed 19 elite firefighters who were trying to

protect homes just down the mountain. >> we are still thinking that as humans we can overpower nature. well, we are not quite that powerful. >> reporter: these fires all have one thing in common: they take place at the wildland-urban interface, a technical term where humans have overstepped into nature. a third of all american homes exist in this type of space. is there anybody who can be held accountable? >> suburban sprawl? how about that? >> reporter: is this in any way a winnable firefight? >> no. why would we even think that way? "winning" means we are still trying to dominate natural patterns. we cannot "win" over nature, ultimately. >> reporter: do you think that if this can happen here, it can happen anywhere? >> for sure. for sure. >> reporter: which begs the ultimate question of if these

communities can rise from the ashes, and how to rebuild when the flames are bound to come back. for eye on america, tom hanson, los angeles. >> norah: how you can help l.a. fire victims when we come back. you can help l.a. fire victims when we come back. so her doctor prescribed austedo xr— a once-daily, extended-release td treatment for adults. ♪ as you go with austedo ♪ austedo xr significantly reduced kate's td movements. some people saw a response as early as 2 weeks. with austedo xr, kate can stay on her mental health meds— (kate) aww! hi buddy! (vo) austedo xr can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or actions in patients with huntington's disease. pay close attention to and call your doctor if you become depressed, have sudden changes in mood, or have suicidal thoughts. don't take if you have liver problems, are taking reserpine, tetrabenazine, or valbenazine. austedo xr may cause irregular or fast heartbeat, or abnormal movements. seek help for fever, stiff muscles, problems thinking, or sweating. common side effects include inflammation

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it is not far from the eaton fire. they offered carloads of food and baby supplies. volunteers left a mountain of bottled water, all free of charge, and there were piles of shirts and pants for people who were forced to flee with only the clothes on their back. one volunteer said she couldn't give much money, but she could give time. if you'd like to help, go to cbsnews.com/lafires. and thanks to everyone for helping. that's tonight's "cbs evening news." i'm norah o'donnell. good night. ♪ ♪ >>it's still heartbreaking, even if your house is there to know that one of the most it's still heartbreaking even if your house is there to know one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in los angeles is gone. >> from the air you can see there's nothing left. >> a neighbor sent us a picture of our house on fire. >> reporter: all of these homes

behind us are burned to the ground. >> firefighters are bracing for more powerful winds that threaten to fan the flames yet again. >> we are not in the clear as of yet and we must not let our guard down. this is cbs news bay area with elizabeth cook. >> i'm anne makovec. firefighters are afraid that the powerful winds moving into southern california could erase the progress they've made over the past few days and potentially make things even worse. the conditions are such a concern the national weather service calls it a "particularly dangerous situation." here is the latest from los angeles right now. the number of people killed in those wildfires has risen to at least 24 and at least 23 people are missing. more than 12,000 structures, including buildings and cars, have been destroyed and about 92,000 people are still under evacuation orders. the good news, cal fire says they've seen very little fire growth over