>> yeah. ten deaths in the last two weeks alone. >> you don't know who to trust. it must be unbelievable. also this morning, the freak accident on the nascar track. look at this. the driver who is counting his blessings after his car literally could have been sliced in two. mark martin coming just inches from almost being impaled by that wall. he is counting his blessings today. >> more on that. later this half-hour, a young woman who videotaped her own ordeal while trapped on a mountain. her serious injury and remarkable story. first, the summer of extreme heat and raging wildfires is nowhere near over. the newest roaring to life suddenly in northern california, forcing thousands of folks to evacuate their homes with very little warning. this morning, 41 major wildfires are burning across eight western states. we have all of the details. >> reporter: the inferno out west has refused to let up. so far at least 6.5 million acres have been lost across the nation. this is more than all of last year. in northern california, thousands of evacuations are underway. the fire truly wild and running rampant. officials saying it is completely uncontained. now threatening at least 3,500 homes. zachary pritchard's home is gone, and he almost lost his life. while evacuating on an atv, the wildfire caught up and singed his arm. >> fire everywhere. like you turn around, everywhere, on all sides of you. >> reporter: in idaho, more than 1,000 firefighters are battling to save the town of featherville. the fire has chewed away at more than 88,000 acres. at least 350 homes were evacuated there, families scrambling to pack up and move out. >> everybody's afraid. their nerves are shot. >> reporter: the biggest problem -- smoke. thick clouds have taken visibility down to less than ten feet in some spots. slowing firefighters. in washington, firefighters are finally getting a handle on the flames there, even though some worry the weather could whip it up again. >> we have potential for dry lightning, erratic wind. >> here's our bed. >> reporter: some returning home to find little left. >> like a death in the family. we have to start over again. >> reporter:head flag warning -- >> reporter: red flag warnings and fire watches are posted for the beginning of this week. that means that weather conditions will not be helping firefighters. ginger zee, abc news, new york. >> thousands fleeing their homes. >> eight western states involved. 41 major fires. as she mentioned, washington, idaho, utah, and this particular area, 41 miles north of sacramento. this is -- there's no containment here. >> particularly thick forests they say. >> yep. right here they believe it was caused by lightning strikes which right now is just turning deadly because it's so dry. >> let's hope we get luck from mother nature out there. >> uh-huh. the dallas area is getting a second coating of pesticides tonight aimed at stopping the west nile epidemic. the first spraying covered more than 300,000 acres. even though planes had to be grounded sudden because of stormy weather. officials -- grounded saturday because of stormy weather. officials say it will help flush out the mosquito larvae. it's killed ten people and infected many in 43 other states. in syria's largest city it remains to be seen if an undeclared cease-fire will remain in place. residents of aleppo used the lull to search for victims and clean up after weeks of violence between government and rebel forces. also yesterday, syria's president addressed the people. the surge of deadly attacks on american troops by afghans that are there to train has claimed another victim. the violence is eroding trust, especially when the u.s. troops are outnumbered and outgunned by their afghan partners. abc reports. >> reporter: we set off for a region so remote, so dangerous that just last month -- [ gunfire ] >> reporter: we were ambushed here by the taliban. what you are is the afghan army. they are leading this fight and returning the fire. [ gunfire ] >> reporter: increasingly, the biggest threat is no longer on the battlefield. with yet another afghan policeman turning his weapon on u.s. forces, ten u.s. troops dead in the last two weeks. afghans seem to be less friend than foe. >> talk to me any time -- >> reporter: a growing danger at bases like this where americans and afghans live side by side. we're on our way to meet the afghan commander of this base. many of his troops have left on a dangerous mission. he's giving us permission to take a private briefing to update us on how the mission is going. inside, the afghan commander is furious. his soldiers haven't returned, and he doesn't know where they are. captain marcus morgan is left to face the anger all alone. the only american in a room filled with afghans who are armed. this is how most insider attacks take place, with american troops completely vulnerable. what's it like walking into a room like that as the only american? >> as you develop personal relationships and work with these -- the afghan counterparts on a routine basis, we learn individual personalities, it becomes a much more comfortable situation. >> reporter: that comfort is now shattered, and the rules have changed. u.s. troops have been ordered to carry loaded weapons with them at all times, a reminder that the taliban aren't just on the battlefield, they could also be in the same room. abc news. >> as if the job our troops are doing isn't complicated and convoluted enough. to not know if the guy next to you is an enemy. >> and you heard that a couple of days they are ordered to carry a loaded weapon at all times. in a room like that. >> yes. >> so far, ten u.s. deaths in the past two weeks due to afghan forces turning on american forces. they don't believe that this one particular is linked to the taliban because the shooter is from a village that is known to despise the taliban. >> interesting. the new zealand coalition that's there is going to pull out a little early after deaths they suffered over the weekend in afghanistan. the taliban -- not the taliban, the afghan forces that we saw are scheduled to take over in 2014. >> right. let's talk it a tragic story coming from los angeles. tony scott, the british-born director of "top gun" and other blockbusters, has jump to his death from a bridge. scott reportedly left a suicide note in his car parked on the bridge. in addition to "top gun," he directed, "days of thunder," beverly hills cop two," and "crimson tide." he was the brother of ridley scott. he was 62 years old. >> tragic. a frightening crash ended a nascar driver's day at the international speedway. check out 55 in this white car, mark martin sliding down row. doesn't look too bad until he slams into the wall. his car basically impaled behind the driver's seat. martin somehow walked away unhurt. you see a burst of flames right there. he called it a freak accident. he is so lucky that it was not worse because, as we mentioned earlier, came inches from hitting the gas tank. >> look at what a job he does holding the wheel at spots. clearly bad, but it could have ended worse. he had a lot to do with, it skill. >> the michigan international speedway, down the road from my hometown, jackson. >> we are a role with michigan. we worked michigan into the broadcast just about every day. >> i told you that the department of tourism is paying me, right? >> i'm telling you what. i want to get on the payroll. i got something, too. moving along -- they don't want the olympic spirit to fade yet. at least in rio, site of the next summer game in 2016. maybe that's why rio's mayor and officials brought the olympic flag to the statue of christ the redeemer. in addition to waving the flag, rio has 200 major construction and infrastructure projects to do in the next three years. 200. >> how great does that picture look? >> amazing. >> i think everything about the -- it's going to be awesome. >> i think so, too. a bit closer to home, rob said it before, they have too much fun down there in the florida keys. the newest example -- this weekend's so-called anything that floats regatta in key largo. >> yes. 17 teams of amateur boat-builders from as far away as britain were in on the act. their only restriction was that their boats had to be constructed of household items. look -- there's little alligators. >> i love it. some were clearly more seaworthy than others, but everyone had a good time. >> you saw the inflatable pool alligator. plastic toys, bubble wrap, foam, empty bleach containers -- people being thrifty and resourceful. >> bubble wrap. >> trying to think, what would i use from my house? >> i have no idea. take some thought. you can't just make it up -- >> i'd use my kids' life preservers. >> that would be good. coming up, making a dream come true. a little girl's passion turns to reality. a frightening situation on a mountain caught on camera. this woman stuck, scared, and injured. more coming up on "world news now." on camera. this woman stuck, scared, and injured. more coming up on "world news now." ♪ [ dog barking ] ♪ [ female announcer ] life is full of little tests, but your basic paper towel can handle them. especially if that towel is bounty basic. the towel that's durable and scrubbable. in this lab demo, bounty basic is stronger than the leading bargain brand. everyday life. bring it with bounty basic. affordably priced. tested by everyday life. and try bounty napkins. i've got a nice long life ahead. big plans. so when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i looked at my options. then i got a medicare supplement insurance plan. 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like how close is the nearest anything? >> reporter: with the sun setting, the college student begins documenting her ordeal in this video diary. >> i'm not going to tell you how scared i am of bears right now. >> reporter: showing the camera her ankle, twisted so bad, we're only going to show it to you this one time. >> this is me moving my foot. the pain has started. at first i didn't feel it. it was kind of funny. i didn't think it was real. >> reporter: yet she manages to keep her calm. >> i'm really scared, but in like the calmest, coolest sense. >> reporter: all of it like a scene out of the movie "127 hours." >> this marks 24 hours since i'm stuck. >> reporter: in the meantime, her boyfriend eric henry went for help, leaving behind a trail of glow sticks to find his way back. >> i knew i needed to hurry. it was getting dark. >> reporter: she tries to flag henry down, screaming for help. finally he finds her. >> you found me. thanks. >> reporter: two surgeries later, she's healing. >> the moral of the story, you can surprise yourself in the face of fear. >> reporter: thankful to doctors and the boyfriend who raced to her rescue. >> all he cared about was getting me to safety. it was amazing. >> reporter: abc news, denver. >> tough cookie. >> i would imagine that video journal helped keep her calm because it gave her something to do. other than look at this torturous twist of her ankle. >> did you see that ankle? >> yeah. and i'm glad we only showed it once. >> not only was she calm, cool and rational, but she was perky. i mean, wow. >> i wonder if the adrenaline kicked in for her. >> you know what? i wouldn't be surprised. >> she was supposed to go to prague to study abroad. she was going to stay back, and she actually starts the fall semester classes today. good luck to her. >> 162,000 youtube hits and counting. >> i'm sure that number has skyrocketed. >> she's going to be on the talk shows before it's over. let's hope. still ahead, a little girl's birthday wish changes an entire community thousands of miles away. >> this is an emotional story how a mother helped her daughter's dream come true. you're watching "world news now." ional story how a mother helped her daughter's dream come true. you're watching "world news now." you're watching "world news now." a little girl's final wish has brought much-needed help to an entire region. >> for her 9th birthday, rachel didn't want presents. she asked for donations to provide water to those who didn't have it. abc's david muir has this story. >> reporter: we've reported here on that one wish that rachel had for her 9th birthday. like so many little girls, she loved taylor swift, had a crush on justin bieber, but she wasn't asking for gifts. instead, she was asking her parents, her grandparents, for donations. >> she wanted to help 15 people get clean water. >> reporter: her goal to help just 15 people. she would have to raise $300. she almost got there, raising $220, telling her mother she would try harder next year. but weeks after she turned 9, rachel was killed in a car accident. her father at a community memorial. >> she was a very unique girl. her heart was bigger than this room. >> reporter: soon, the country would learn of that heart. her story spreading coast to coast. soon after more than 22,000 people had given hundreds of thousands. her mother, samantha, telling us of a dream come true in honor of her daughter. >> she wanted to help other people and now she is helping a lot more than she could have imagined. >> reporter: charity water which sent all of that money to northern ethiopia where there are thousands in need of water. and on the one-year anniversary of her death, her mother was invited to ethiopia to see what her daughter's one wish accomplished. >> it's 6:00 in the morning and we're about to go see some of rachel's wells. >> reporter: walking a path, the machinery now digging the wells. rachel's grandfather right there, too. >> i am rachel's grandfather. i wish rachel could be here today. first of all, she would think this is the neatest thing she'd ever seen in her entire life. >> reporter: the faucets running, little wet hands, giant smiles. >> i really appreciate everyone's love. m so h >> reporter: 9-year-old rachel had just wanted to help 15 people. now 60,000 people in more than 100 villages will drink clean water. david muir, abc news, new york. >> what an amazing kid. >> just 9 years old, and already has a heart of gold and a true altruist already. >> let me read you another anecdote. her photo was nested in a marble fixture in that village. it will serve as a reminder of all the mothers when they draw water from the well of that mother's tragic loss and a child's dream brought this water there. >> they wrote poems about her. they gave her mom notes and -- i love this -- another community sectioned off a plot of land and they called it rachel's park and invited her mom and grandparents to plant trees. >> so inspiring. still to come, the number one movie at the box office. >> we'll be right back. ♪ haven't seen a lot of movies. like acadia national park. there is nothing like the parks this time of year. the falling leaves, the crisp air, the perfect inspiration for air wick's fall collection. yeah, when i smell all those things, i know fall is in the air. the fall collection brought to you by air wick and the national park foundation. something in the air wick. what do you do when you can no longer get around like you used to? 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