jonathan vigliotti has the story. >> reporter: if you drained monterey bay, you would see a cass m the size of the grand canyon. it's here that scientists just discovered a key to how the oceans keep carbon out of our atmosphere. >> the animals less than 10 centimeters in size are playing big floels how things function in our ocean. there's the laser housing here -- >> connie is the engineer who built and deployed this camera and laser scanning system. it was just used to look inside a creature that has puzzled and amazed scientists for decades. >> three, two, one. >> her team attached that system to a motor that dove. >> what are they? >> what's amazing about these animals is their ability to create complex structures, completely out of mucous that they secret. >> reporter: the camera gave them these images of the tiny creature at the center of a sometimes three foot diameter web of constructed mucous. >> three feet of snot. >> some people say snot palate. >> it's a snot -- >> i think palace is better than house. >> you want me to turn more east bridge? >> reporter: it's only when the

>> o'donnell: jonathan vigliotti there, thank you.ight the curfew has been lifted in louisville, kentucky. protests over the shooting death of breonna taylor have been largely peaceful. well, today former detective brett hankison pleaded not guilty to wanton endangerment for firing ten shots wildly, some hitting a neighbor's apartment. and now video has emerged that raises new questions about the officer's actions. on of the police's internal investigation will be released within days. of the federal government, who sometimes disagree with one another. dr. fauci warns the u.s. is not in a good place with 15 states averaging positivity rates above 10%. here in new york there has been an uptick in cases, just as most new york city public schools are set to reopen for in-person learning this week. norah? >> o'donnell: nikki battiste, thank you. well, tonight former trump campaign manager brad parscale is under psychiatric evaluation at a florida hospital after his wife told police that he was abusive, armed and possibly suicidal. here's

norah. >> o'donnell: jonathan vigliotti, thank you for your reporting. some news today from f.b.i.ector chris wray who told congress that russia is very active in trying to interfere i. and the kremlin's goal is to denigrate joe biden. wray also broke with president trump by calling antifa an ideology, not an organization. the president wants to label antifa a terrorist group. instead, wray told lawmakers that it is white supremacist groups are the biggest focus of f.b.i. domestic terror investigations. turning now to the shocking comments from attorney general william barr comparing coronavirus stay at home orders to slavery. here's cbs's jeff pegues. >> reporter: attorney general william barr is under fireto coronavirus lockdown to slavery. >> stay at home orders is like house arrest. it is, you know, other than slavery which was a different kind of restraint, this is the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in american history. >> reporter: that remark brought swift condemn nation from the highest ranking african-american in congress. >> it is incredible that the chief law enfo

norah. >> o'donnell: jonathan vigliotti, thank you. there is still much more news ahead on tonight's "cbs evening news." one of the country's biggest entertainment companies lays off tens of thousands of workers. why they say the pandemic is to blame. and the n.f.l. has its first covid outbreak. the two teams sidelined, and what does it mean for the rest of the season? advanced non-small cell lung cancer can take away so much. one that could mean... a chance to live longer. opdivo plus yervoy is for adults newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread and that tests positive for pd-l1 and does not have an abnormal egfr or alk gene. it's the first and only approved chemo-free combination of two immunotherapies that works together in different ways to harness the power of the immune system. opdivo plus yervoy equals a chance for more days. more nights. more beautiful weekends. more ugly sweaters. more big hugs. more small outings. opdivo and yervoy can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in your

>> o'donnell: jonathan vigliotti there, thank you. tonight the curfew has been lifted in louisville, kentucky. protests over the shooting death of breonna taylor have been largely peaceful. today former detective brett hankison pleaded not guilty to guilty to wanton endangerment for firing ten shots wildly, some hitting a neighbor's apartment. violation of police policy. this is reportedly him asking about shell casings before being asked to leave. >> reporter: and tonight "vice" released audio of the swat commander who responded who in this interview with investigators criticized the execution of the warrant and describes the aftermath. >> it was just an egregious act. i mean from our perspective, if that is in fact what happened. as other details come to light t is what st. it seemed like there is no target identification whatsoever for those rounds shot into the into thet. >> reporter: co-council for caleb's boyfriend kenneth walker: >> if the community is abo to be made, the truth needs to be put out. >> put your hands on your hea

here's cbs' jonathan vigliotti. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: across oregon, so many are wondering, when end? the fires keep ranging, the smoke unrelenting, the damage indescribable. >> it's just a devastating situation. >> reporter: major william ayden is with the oregon national guard here to protect the town of phoenix-- his town. this is wiped clean. >> and this is so fresh the smells are here. the devastation, it's really even hard to fathom. >> reporter: amid the ruins, cadaver dogs still search for the missing and across oregon are scenes like this. one home survives. those around it are leveled. >> pretty tough stuff. >> reporter: the air so hazardous, one in 10 e.r. visits in the state are related to wildfire smoke. >> we know air call the can worsen asthma or c.o.p.d., lead to increased heart attacks. >> reporter: the scale of damage is so immense. the town of talent, oregon, is echoed throughout the west where dozens of major wildfires continue to burn. in southern california, the bobcat fire exploding again. and a new battlefront on the mountain top, firefighters now trying t

cbs' jonathan vigliotti leads us off from pine ridge, california, jonathan. >> reporter: chip, the fire has become so destructible that we have been pushed back to this staging area along with backup fair teams and for good reason. we traveled through much of this area earlier today and saw the fire and the destruction first hand. complete and utter devastation. at least half of the central california town of big creek obliterated. this video shows the nightmare as it unfolded, flames engulfing everything in sight, burning home after home in what was an idyllic community. that was before. and this is after. ground zero where the creek fire got its name, and where today several neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble and ash. first responders are only now reaching this town. they still don't know if everyone made it out. there may be little hope for those who did not. these harrowing images have emerged from those who escaped as they drove through roaring flames. fire also trapping hundreds at a nearby campground, dennis drake dove into the lake. >> in my mind i'm going okay, are we go

jonathan vigliotti introduces us to a tiny creature deep under water. is it pretty or creep?about that. that may be playing a huge role in the fight against climate change. >> reporter: this 8,000-pound robot is the remotely operated vehicle ventana. it usually spends most of its time submerged more than a mile deep in the ocean. and what it discovered on its recent missions may change the way we understand climate change. that story coming up on "cbs this morning." >> all i can say is i'm happy that the creature is tiny. >> yes, yes. >> yes. >> yeah. i think it's intriguing. >> it's gelatinous. that creeps me out. if it's doing something for the planet -- >> looking through a telescope you'd be worried. >> if you live that way under the sea you'd it was just a get together with friends. no big deal. everybody felt fine. but now im super sick. everyone is sick. i just wish we had been more careful. it would have been easier than this. so wear a mask. do what you can outside. stay six feet apart. because some things you just can't take back. do your part to lower the risk. >>>

cbs' jonathan vigliotti is going to lead off our coverage from the landing zone where the national guardstill staging those dramatic rescues tonight. good evening, jonathan. >> reporter: good evening to you, norah. the national guard still making those air rescues. one, in fact, is returning right now. they've been doing so for more nothing about battling this blaze has come easy. tonight, the creek fire is being called an unprecedented disaster, spiraling flames in all directions. we saw it firsthand. these are the kinds of unbelievable conditions that rescuers are facing and why they simply can't get to those campers that are trapped deep inside this forest. campgrounds had been packed on a labor day weekend that quickly became a nightmare. >> just wanted to show you if we make it out of this, there's fire on all sides, all around us, all the roads. >> reporter: the california national guard made some rescues, but had to abort several more with the fire still too treacherous. finally today came the break they needed. >> good luck. >> reporter: this was mary breckenridge, hearing for th

jonathan vigliotti is on the front lines near the sierra national forest. >> reporter: an inferno ragingut of control tonight in california's sierra national forest. the 100 foot flames destroying homes, leaving a trail of destruction. and even trapping campers. >> all the roads are burned. >> reporter: california's national guard airlifting more than 200 people to safety from mammoth pool reservoir. the dozens injured are recovering tonight. the creek fire they escaped from burning more than 46,000 acres so far. >> the sheriff came and told us we didn't have to evacuate but he was advising we do. because he didn't know if the fire would jump the road and we couldn't get out. >> reporter: in san diego the valley fire tripling in size overnight, ripping through 4,000 acres, already burning ten homes and threatening more. >> we all have houses built after 2005, there is so much fuel at the base of that hill. i don't know if they will weather the storm or not. >> reporter: and 100 miles east of l.a. the el dorado fire exploding in size, scorching more than 3,000 acres, now burning in rugged

here's cbs's jonathan vigliotti. >> reporter: it has been more than a week and the historic fires continue to rage. more evacuations in southern california as flames close in. hundreds of homes already lost throughout the west. today president trump was briefed by officials. >> it's a tough battle but they have never let us down. >> reporter: one of the hardest hit areas, the northern california town of berry creek. this map showing all the homes damaged or destroyed. the west zone fire swept through butte county so fast, 14 people were killed and today the search is on for at least seven who are still missing. the fires also creating thick smoke so hazardous california's governor says it is like smoking 400 cigarettes a day. among cities with the world's worst air quality, portland ranks second, seattle and san francisco also in the top five. in oregon where flames exploded as they roared throu s today a surreal scene, talent, oregon covered in retardant meant to save this town, it was no match. the entire neighborhood now in ruins. oregon officials fear the death toll could dramatically

here's cbs' jonathan vigliotti. >> this is insane. >> reporter: we are now hearing from those who barely made out as flames ripped through southern oregon, bearing down on the towns of talent and phoenix. >> i was frantic. we drove two and a half miles up the road and we ptty much seen reporter: cody and norma sims and their four children got out just in time, but their homes, like so many others in phoenix and talent lay in ruins. when you saw those flames come, what was that like for you? >> there was an overwhelming sense of calm there for a little bit, and then it just hits you ly i nowawelvolunteers ateyou wt the center that is now a lifeline for people and rescued pets. each cat here represents a homeless. >> yes. >> reporter: that's-- >> sad. >> reporter: the western fires continued to pour out smoke on a massive scale so thick it stretches haze not just to the east coast but smoke now reaching all the way to europe. this while portland, oregon continues to have the worst air quality on earth, the fires continuing to take a toll as the search for the missing carries on, survivors

i have already heard people saying we're going to make this bigger and better. >> jonathan vigliottiting. just devastating. >> hey look at that damage and say we're going to rebuild. you look at that and think how is anybody standing upright, thinking about the next step, but they are. >> it's been 100 years since some of those neighborhoods have been hit that hard and i think they're thinking we'll go another 100 years. hopefully they can come back. >>> president trump is used to tackling reporters' questions but he face aid new challenge last night from undecided voters. abc news townhall covered several issues, including the coronavirus pandemic that is still causing 1,000 deaths aday in the u.s. as weijia jiang reports. >> why did you throw vulnerable people like me under the bus? >> reporter: voter after voter pressed president trump about his handling of the pandemic. >> why don't you support a mandate for national mask wearing? >> reporter: each time the president defended himself and deflected blame. >> do you believe it's the president's responsibility to protect america, wh

jonathan vigliotti is tracking the damage. >> the glass fire more than doubled in size as the sun wentnday bearing down on the town of deer park, which is under mandatory evacuation orders. >> warning. fire evacuation in progress. >> officials ordered hundreds out of their homes early sunday morning as the glass fire destroyed buildings and threatened neighborhoods in northern california's napa county. >> there's a mountain right there. and you can see the flames. and it was just really scary because it was just like a line of flames. >> reporter: hospital officials in the town were forced to use ambulances to evacuate some 55 patients as a precaution. the area is home to some of northern california's biggest wineries which have seen multiple fires in recent years. >> almost seems like year after year after year. >> it is becoming more of a norm, but this is the closest it's ever been for us. >> reporter: high winds fueled the flames throughout the day, destroying decades-old wineries. >> it's cremation. >> reporter: craig battuello's family has raised grapes in st. helena for more tha

next, let's hearfrom cbs correspondent jonathan vigliotti.rders could not be issued fast enough. and we actually spoke with one gentleman who was camping with his family. he wasjoined by about 150 other campers at a popular camp ground deep inside this forest. when they saw the flames, by the time they tried to evacuate, the one road out was blocked by a path of fire. this is a popular area for lakes, and so they did what made the most sense and probably saved their lives byjumping into a lake and riding out the worst of the firestorm for about an hour and a half. as they told us the story, they had embers of size of golf balls being thrown at them from the wind, so they were very lucky to survive that. and it took 12 hours to be rescued. so, the helicopters in the national guard brought them in and plucked 20 people at a time and bring them to safety. again, though, right now the firefight is very much active as we are stilljust trying to get a sense of what kind of destruction was called. we know of a town here where half of the buildings w

jonathan vigliotti is in alder springs in northern california. nathan, the scenes around some of these fires are really frightening. >> good morning to you. these are the kinds of unbelievable conditions that rescuers are facing this morning. and why they simply can't get to those campers trapped deep inside this forest. this wildfire is creating its own weather system. it is simply growing out of control, and there are not enough firefighters to hold it back. military pilots attempted several remote rescue operations monday to try and evacuate trapped hikers and campers near fres fresno, california. but heavy smoke from the devastating creek fire stopped them at their every turn. >> they weren't able to land several times. several attempts throughout the day. >> reporter: authorities expanded evacuation orders in communities near fresno monday as the creek fire continued to burn out of control. this thick plume of smoke was seen from an airplane. the blaze decimated the town of big creek, including toby weight's home. >> devastation. i don't know

jonathan vigliotti is tracking this historic disaster. >> reporter: crews are using cadaver dogs to search through charred rubble in southeastern oregon looking for any sign of the missing. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: fast-moving flames ripped through nearly half a dozen towns last week giving residents little time to escape. even heavy duty fire retardant was not enough to save these homes. >>> like ashley britten are seeing the destruction for the first time. >> it's the worst thing i've ever seen in my life. it's -- i've seen videos, but it's a thousand times worse than i could have ever imagined. >> reporter: firefighters across the west have been battling shifting winds as they try to gain control of more than a hundred fires. the hazardous smoke is so severe, the national weather service says it has created a haze across the country. all the way to washington, d.c. and alaska airlines announced it was temporarily suspending flights to and from portland, oregon, and spokane, washington, due to the smoke. dave monroe lives in hard-hit talent, oregon. >> there's something going on. that

jonathan vigliotti is in napa county with more on this story. >> good morning to you.ou are looking at yet another home that's about to go up in flames. the fire has destroyed more than 100 structures at this hour as it continues to push its way down the mountainside into neighborhoods. nearly 70,000 people have been evacuated. the fire stands at 0% containment. as it continues to grow. the glass fire tore through napa in sonoma county monday consuming a decades-old winery and popular bed and breakfast. it damaged the elite meadowwood resort while leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. evacuees say they had little time to outrun the flames as it grew to tens of thousands of acres. >> a lot of explosions, flames everywhere. >> as you were escaping? >> yes. >> reporter: the conditions here are so dry, it is like a tinderbox. these flames are getting dangerously close to neighborhoods. the fire forced members of this retirement community, home to more than 4,500 seniors, to evacuate. it covered carbs with ash and turned the skies above sonoma county red as the smoke block

jonathan vigliotti is in shaver lake county north of los angeles.ou spoke with a man who says he barely escaped. >> michelle, good morning to you. derek drake will be the first to tell you he is lucky to be alive. he was camping out here in the woods when he first noticed the flames. by the time he packed his stuff up, the one road out was completely blocked by a wall of fire. this park is known for its lakes so he did the one thing that made sense and jumped into the water. campers hoping for a relaxing labor day weekend found themselves suddenly trapped by flames. the so-called creek fire exploded. jumping a river and kutcutting a river. dennis drake was with his family. >> it was the fastest growing fire i had ever even heard of, let alone seen. it was amazing. >> reporter: he and about 150 people spent over an hour in the reservoir to escape the fire. >> embers the size of golf balls. winds 40, 50, 60 miles an hour. we keep going under and under and under and it's like, in my mind, i'd gone, okay, are we going to die from the fire or from drowni

jonathan vigliotti is near the front lines in barry creek, california.ood morning to you. >> good morning to you. there are road blocks surrounding devastated neighborhoods but there was chaos when the flames ripped through. we're hearing from one family in oregon caught in the middle of it all. a mother who escaped in her car. her young son and grandmother who tried to escape in another vehicle but didn't make it far before they were engulfed by flames. across the west, thousands of homes and families have been torn apart by these wildfires which continue to rage. as families assess the damage from wildfires, flames continue to threaten more communities. >> mandatory evacuation. >> reporter: in southern california, officials ordered additional evacuations due to the bobcat fire northeast of los angeles. >> we're all living through very tough times and then you superimpose upon it a devastating fire like this. and so it's hard. it's really challenging. >> reporter: flames have decimated entire neighborhoods. and thick smoke is creating some of the world'

jonathan vigliotti is in calistoga, california, where residents have been told to e k evacuate. >> reporterhigh humidity has helped calm down the flames, giving fire crews a bit of an upper hand here. a high wind event is expected later this week. the fast-moving glass fire continues to burn through the world famous napa valley, destroying dozens of homes and businesses and threatening hundreds more. more than 80,000 people have been forced to flee, including the entire towns of calistoga and angwin. >> you look at your house going, am i ever going to see it again? >> reporter: some of the historic wineries and vineyards have suffered millions of dollars in damage. fire crews attacked the flames from above. but on the ground, law enforcement officers and homeowners are getting desperate. sheriff's lieutenant used a garden hose to protect this house. >> i just had to do something. >> reporter: bob pegram saved his neighbor's home, quickly notifying firefighters after it was quickly engulfed in flames. crews who were already stretched thin cut off the front steps just in time. >> that's it, t