tonight inside the deadly inferno. the burned out apartment building that went up in flames. at least 12 people killed. new york's mayor calling it the worst fire in at least a quarter century. tonight why investigators think a 3-year-old started the blaze. dangerous cold. the massive pileup on an icy highway. temperatures plunging from coast to coast. new york city bracing for the coldest new year's celebration in decades. on high alert. the security crackdown in times square. more than a million revelers expected the new tool to find explosives hidden in thick coats. president trump and his

what he says about special counsel robert mueller. escalator horror. disturbing video. a wheelchair bound grandmother falling down an escalator. why her family says the airline is to blame. breaking news. swatting death? did a prank call lead to a deadly police shooting? good evening. and welcome to "world news tonight." i'm tom llamas in for david and we begin with the devastating scene of fire and ice in the bronx. >> at least 12 people killed including children. in the deadliest fire in new york city in more than a quarter century. more than 160 firefighters on the scene within minutes. but for some who lived there, it was already too late. survivors escape the flames into the freezing night huddling in the street without coats, some even without

stairway destroying it from the inside. officials say it was a 3-year-old boy playing with burners on a stove who started the blaze. he and his mother and sister survived. but so many others did not. abc's erielle reshef starts us off. >> reporter: tonight, a first look inside the charred hallway of that new york apartment building. the path of destruction after flames raced up these stairs, claiming at least 12 lives. including four children. >> fire travels up, the stairwell acted like a chimney. it took the fire so quickly upstairs that people had very little time to react. >> reporter: the walls -- blackened by smoke. water still dripping from floors above. fire officials today revealing the deadly blaze ignited in the kitchen of a first floor apartment. >> it started from a young boy, 3 1/2 years old playing with the burners on the stove. >> reporter: his mother coming out of the shower to find smoke. officials say the fire spread so quickly in part because she left

the door open when she fled the apartment with her son and 2-year-old. the call coming in just before 7:00 last night. >> fire in a multi-living dwelling, multiple floors. >> reporter: more than 160 firefighters rushing to the scene in about three minutes, performing cpr on the injured as they were whisked away. >> we've got a child trapped, unknown floor. >> reporter: as many as 20 people crammed onto frigid fire escapes trying to outrun the fast moving flames. >> most people were trapped inside the apartment, because the fire escape was full. there was no room for people to come out. >> reporter: those who managed to get out, facing single-digit temperature. many with no shoes or coats. red cross and neighbors rushing to keep victims warm. >> what do i do? where do i go from here? >> reporter: tonight, families sharing heartbreaking stories of loss. >> jesus, four from one family? come on, no. >> reporter: four victims,

including shawntay young, her aunt and two cousins -- 2 and 7. on the fifth floor. this man says his son, who's in the army, died trying to get people out. >> i couldn't find him and i panicked and i knew something was wrong. >> reporter: maria batiz trapped in a bathroom with her 8-month-old granddaughter, calling her family in those final moments. >> they couldn't escape. the smoke, i guess overcame her. everything happened so quick. >> so devastating to hear. now from the scene of the fire. tonight there are still victims that are fighting for their lives? >> reporter: tom, 26 people were injured in this fire. 4 are in critical condition according to officials tonight and we know the district attorney here in the bronx says this was an accident and is not investigating. tom. >> such a horrible tragedy. thank you. we saw what firefighters were up against whith that cold

winter weather alerts from washington to new york. in a new storm moving from the midwest to the northeast causing this multi-car pileup on u.s. 31 in michigan. lake-effect snow falling on hard hit erie, pennsylvania. the coldest night expected to be new year's eve. abc's alex perez is in chicago where the snow is coming down tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the deep freeze tightening its chokehold on the nation, as new storms make for a dangerous commute. in minnesota -- >> nice. >> reporter: multiple drivers losing control. >> look she's goin' again. she's done! >> reporter: in michigan, low visibility blamed for this 40-car pileup on us- 31, near muskegon. tow trucks pulling cars off the median, closing the highway. >> the whiteout conditions started a chain reaction. >> reporter: overnight in illinois, a convertible slicing

in chicago, police crews using torches to de-ice manhole covers. the subzero temps claiming at least two lives from hypothermia. the bitter cold now dipping as far south as charleston, south carolina. icy conditions forcing officials to shut down multiple bridges. for millions, it will be the coldest new years eve in decades. feeling like minus 8 in boston and a minus 25 degree wind chill in minneapolis -- you can get frostbite in just 30 minutes. in new york, it will feel like negative 4 when the ball drops. meanwhile on the ice-caked great lakes, residents not done digging out from over five feet of snow. and now bracing for up to another 18 inches. >> more than a foot of snow still on the way there in erie. alex joins us from chica

residents there? >> reporter: that's right, tom. as you can see it's snowing here. we're expecting about three inches from this clipper system that is heading east. right now it feels like five degrees. come new year's eve it will feel like 11 below zero. >> the snow adding insult to injury. abc's rob marciano joins us live. that snow is moving east? >> reporter: it is. preceding the next batch of arctic air. take a look on the radar. slick commute across interstate 80 as well. south of chicago is the heaviest band. 1 to 4 inches there. cincinnati to pittsburgh. philadelphia up through new york and tomorrow afternoon the lake-effect snows will continue. this is ushering in the next wave of arctic cold. look at the numbers setting up for new year's eve and new year's day. minus 11 in chicago

windchill. four degrees in d.c. and minus four in new york city. ten to 15 degrees colder than where it is right now. tom. >> that leads us to our next story. the bitter cold presenting a security risk for the police guarding the new year's eve crowds. revelers in times square will be raising concern in what could be in under those layers and thick coats. how the nypd is preparing for that possibility and others like never before. >> reporter: about 48 hours to go before a million people descend upon times square and the unprecedented security operation is underway. police tackling it from above ground, underground, and from the air, preparing to soon shut down all garages within the secure perimeter, to ward off potential truck bombs, and clear everyone out, before screening each person who comes into times square. >> from the magentometers, to the explosive detection canine or vapor wake dogs, to the

explosive trace machines that we will similar to the airports -- where we can swab the handles of the bag and put it through a machine in a few seconds. >> reporter: cities adding extra security. in philadelphia police are on high alert. in new york city umbrellas and bags banned. snipers on rooftops will be ready to act. and those vapor wake dogs able to sniff out even a trace amount of explosives that could be hidden under the many layers revelers will be wearing in what could be the second coldest new year's eve on record. >> we are working in conjunction with fdny and ems to make sure we have the appropriate number personnel there and the ability to get around through the emergency lanes. >> and gee -- with more than a million people packed inside a small area what are officials doing to prepare for emergencies related to the weather? >> reporter: well, tom, they're really urging people to dress warmly because remember, frostbite can set in in a half

police are preparing for people to get sick out here. tom. >> those crowds will be waiting for hours. gio, thanks. turning to politics. president trump visiting one of his florida golf clubs again today inviting some 60 members of the coast guard for lunch and a round of golf to thanks them for their response to the hurricanes in both texas and florida. the president enjoying his break from washington, even sitting down for an interview with "the new york times". david wright is in west palm beach tonight. >> reporter: as his first year in office quickly winds down, president trump appears to be in a jovial mood. >> this is the 17th hole and all of you were watching my shot. right? did you see it? the shot and the birdie. and i made it! >> reporter: back at the clubhouse, sitting down with a "new york times" reporter, even the ongoing russia investigation doesn't seem to bother trump. the president assured the reporter 16 times in a

was no collusion between his campaign and the russians. gone were his recent snipes at the integrity of fbi investigators. >> it's a shame what happened with the fbi. >> reporter: instead the president said -- repeatedly -- that he thinks special counsel bob mueller's investigation will be fair. trump did, however, say he thinks the investigation "makes the country look very bad and it puts the country in a very bad position." for months now, it's been a white house talking point that mueller should wrap up his investigation by the end of the year, or shortly thereafter. >> i don't know how much longer it could possibly go on. but we are in great hopes that it wraps up. >> reporter: but trump admitted to the "times" that may have been wishful thinking. "timingwise, i can't tell you," he said. "i just don't know. but i think we'll be treated fairly." >> david is with the president tonight in west palm beach, florida. in the interview trump appearing to take another shot at his attorney general jeff

>> reporter: that's one way to interpret it tom. the reporter asked the president whether former attorney general eric holder was more loyal to president obama than sessions has been to trump. trump wouldn't take the bait. he said he didn't want to talk about loyalty but went on to say that holder always protected obama and was critical in this interview of sessions' decision to recuse himself from the russia probe. next a medical alert. the flu spiking across the country. earlier than last year. take a look at the latest map from the cdc. high flu activity reported in 21 states. the ones there are red in orange. twice as many as a week ago. other states will be next and when will this outbreak reach its peak. here's adrienne bankert. >> reporter: flu season is getting worse -- and fast. the number of states sickened with high flu levels more than doubled in the last week, now at 21. the south and west seeing the most patients with flu-related symptoms.

>> reporter: california school teacher laura londano skipped her flu shot this year. >> i had my two weeks off. and this is how i'm spending my holidays is just in bed and now here in urgent care. >> reporter: this seasons vaccine isn't cutting it. reportedly only 10% effective against this years dominant strain of flu, yet doctors still recommend getting a flu shot. >> everybody who i've seen who has the flu, most of them -- most -- did not get the flu shot. those who have had the flu shot, their symptoms are much, much, much less. >> reporter: and experts say since not everyone who has the flu goes to the doctor the numbers are likely higher than reported. >> adrienne bankert joins us. the flu season is supposed to get worse before it gets better? >> exactly, tom. the experts are saying the flu should peak between now and the end of january. so they're saying it's a critical time to be extra vigilant about hand washing and you still have time to get that flu shot. >> hand

thank you. still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this friday. the graphic video from a u.s. airport. the grandmother in a wheelchair tumbling down an escalator trying to catch her flight. why the family is blaming the airline. following breaking news. a young man killed by police tonight. authorities believe a prank call led to that deadly police shooting. and the collision on the tracks in a major city, two trolleys, more than a dozen injured. the investigation under way. stay with us. at? you mean after that? no, i'm talking before that. do you have things you want to do before you retire? oh yeah sure... ok, like what? but i thought we were supposed to be talking about investing for retirement? we're absolutely doing that. but there's no law you can't make the most of today. what do you want to do? i'd really like to run with the bulls. wow. yea. hope you're fast. i am. get a portfolio that works for you now and as your needs change. investment management services from td ameritrade.

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21 steps at the portland airport last june, her heavy wheelchair landing on top of her as bystanders scramble to help. >> it could be someone else's grandma, mom, sister that this could happen to. >> reporter: kekona was connecting in portland in june, on her way from maui, home to spokane. her family says they arranged with alaska airlines for an escort between gates, but they claim alaska's gate-to-gate service contractor -- huntleigh usa -- abandoned her. >> they walked away and bernice became confused. she pulls up to the escalator thinking she's getting on the elevator at that point. >> reporter: alaska says, "we're heartbroken by this tragic and disturbing incident." but says, "it appears that ms. kekona declined ongoing assistance in the terminal and decided to proceed on her own to her connecting flight." >> reporter: kekona's family says the fall left her bedridden, in constant pain for the next three months. she died in september. they are now suing huntleigh usa and alaska airlines. it's not gonna bring her back, obviously, but someone needs to own up. someone needs tta

>> reporter: as for that contractor, huntleigh usa, they haven't said much. but the ceo did tell me they are reviewing the facts of the case. tom. >> clayton, thank you. when we come back, the big moment for the beatles, what's happening for the first time in twenty years. the headline fans are talking about tonight. the hit that shook up the nfl. the quarterback, you see him twitching on the field. coming up, the new rule that could change the way the game is played. before you and your rheumatologist move to another treatment, ask if xeljanz xr is right for you. xeljanz xr is a once-daily pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. it can reduce pain, swelling and further joint damage, even without methotrexate. xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz xr if you have an infection.

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hospital. most with minor injuries. remaining passengers walked along the tracks to board shuttle buses. the crash is under investigation. the nfl changing the rules. the league says the houston texans will not be punished for their handling of quarterback tom savage's recent concussion. you see him shaking. he remained in the game despite shaking on the field. investigators say concussion protocol outcome was unacceptable. the league adding a specialist to monitor replays. any player who shows signs of impact seizure will be removed immediately. call him sir ringo. awarded a knighthood by queen elizabeth. also knighted. barry gibb who is dedicating the honor to his late brothers. when we come back, we check in with david muir before we ring in the new year. stay with us.

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finally tonight here a thank you to tom for filling in this week and a moment to thank all of you at home. i'm grateful you turn to us every night and what a year of news it's been and grateful for everyone behind the scenes. all the friends i count on every single night to get this newscast on the air. we're in this together. from all of us here, thanks for watching. have a good evening and an early

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