As the president hits two battleground states, how his campaign blew through 800 million. Will President Trump help fund his own Reelection Campaign . Plus a new poll shows its a dead heat in the crucial state of florida. Back to school means back to Online Learning for millions of students as we learn 70,000 new cases of coronavirus in children over the last two weeks. Vaccine promise drug makers pledge safety over politics, but are americans ready to roll up their sleeves . A new poll says not so fast. History on the court whats so special about the u. S. Open quarterfinals this year . Heres a hint three of the women also go by mom. And a father and son serve up kindness in the toughest of times. This is the cbs evening news with norah odonnell, reporting from the nations capital. Odonnell good evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. Were going to begin tonight in california, where dozens of wildfires are now raging out of control. In whats being described as an unprecedented disaster. 39 million americans are under red flag warnings as we come on the air tonight, and theres growing fear that scorching temperatures and high winds will only make the situation worse in the coming days. Now, much of the west coast is now in the danger zone as powerful gusts of hot, dry air are fueling blazes all the way from the Canadian Border down to san diego. Tonight, the town of malden, washington, has been virtually wiped off the map after flames ripped through the fire station, city hall, and most of the homes there. But nowhere are things more dire than outside of fresno, where whats being called the creek fire exploded so quickly, its being described as in a class by itself. Now, tonight, the National Guard is working around the clock frantically air lifting out hundreds of people who had been camping in the mountains and are now stranded by the flames, and power is being shut off for hundreds of thousands of People Living in the area as crews try to stop Electrical Equipment from sparking even more fires. Now, theres also some breaking news that that is just coming in from one of the major latestage trials of a Coronavirus Vaccine. The drug Maker Astrazeneca says tonight it has put its study on hold while it looks into what appears to be an unexplained illness in one of the people participating in the test of the vaccine. So theres a lot of new reporting to get to tonight. We have our team of correspondents standing by to cover it all. Cbs Jonathan Vigliotti is going to lead off our coverage from the landing zone where the National Guard is still 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. Theyve 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 cant 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, theres 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 the first time from her son john that all was okay. He was aboard a chinook helicopter. Three days of anxiety and despair melting away in an instant. John and his dog banner safely rescued. You know, my cabin is probably on fire, our cabin, but this is whats important. Hey, honey reporter the wildfires burning throughout the west are especially destructive this year. Scientists say theyre fueled by climate change, the fires now ripping throug ripping through several states leaving a path of immeasurable destruction, this fire exploding in utah, others racing through the Pacific Northwest in the Small Community of malden, washington. We have approximately 90 of the town is completely gone. Reporter including the city hall, fire station, and the post office, flames still visible hours after the fire raced through, pushed by 50mileper hour winds. Residents getting out just in time. Back at the creek fire, pilots made eight trips today rescuing 120 people. The winds are about to pick up again, the fire still out of control. But for so many families, this is all that matters. What do you have to say for the pilots . Oh they are modernday superheroes. Reporter and that latest chopper just landed. The other superheroes here, firefighters. And tonight, were learning 14 firefighters had to deploy fire shields in Los Padres National forest. Those shields are metallic shields against the flames. We are told three of them are injured, one is in critical condition. Norah. Odonnell we pray for their safe recovery. Thank you, jonathan. And now to that breaking news from rochester, new york, where tonight the chief of police and several of his top officers have suddenly stepped now. Now, it comes as the family of daniel prude, who died after being restrained by Rochester Police, files a wrongful death lawsuit against the chief, the city, and the officers involved. We get more now from cbs jericka duncan. We want to make sure that mr. Prudes death changes how we do policing in the city. Reporter that was rochester, new york, police chief Laron Singletary at a press conference on sunday. Now, just days after being accused of misleading the mayor of rochester, hes announced his retirement, releasing this statement as a man of integrity, i will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character. The events over the past week are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Reporter last wednesday, Police Body Camera video from march showed daniel prude being arrested and restrained by several Rochester Police officers. Seven days after that encounter, prude died. His death was ruled a homicide caused by complications of asphyxia and the setting of physical restraint. The hallucinogenic p. C. P. Was listed as a contributing factor. He feels pretty cold. Reporter mayor lovely warren suspended the seven officers she says were involved in the arrest. She initially said the police chief told her back in march that prudes death was being investigated as a drug overdose. Late today, the mayor held a news conference. Chief singletary will remain in charge of the department through the end of the month, and i know that he and the officers will fulfill their duties. Reporter even the deputy chief announced his plans to retire, and the mayor says she expects more officers will follow suit. Protesters will be out for the seventh straight night. Today, some of them calling this move and news of the chief leaving necessary. Norah. Odonnell jericka duncan, thank you. Weve got more now on that breaking news on a possible covid vaccine. Testing has been paused for one of the leading candidates developed by Oxford University and astrazeneca. Now, this comes as the c. E. O. S of nine drug makers today vowed not to bow to pressure in speaking approval for their vaccines before theyve been properly tested. Cbs adriana diaz joins us now. Adriana, whats the news . Why are they pausing this trial . Reporter norah, good evening. Tonight, drug Maker Astrazeneca said that a participant in the phase three trial in the u. K. , had an adverse effect to the vaccine. So theyre putting that trial, which is also taking place here in the u. S. , on hold. This just underscores the importance of widespread human testing and phase three trials before any vaccine goes to market. Nine of the leading vaccine makers stated what should be obvious, that theyll adhere to high scientific and ethical standards. But in an unusual show of scientific solidarity, they also promised to pursue phase three Clinical Trials before the approval of any vaccine, a step russia and china skipped, adding, we believe this pledge will help ensure public confidence. Heres why a recent cbs news poll found that just 21 of voters say they would get a vaccine as soon as its available, down from 32 in july. Another study found that 78 worry that politics, not science, is driving the vaccine approval process. The president has said that a vaccine could be ready by election day, but today, dr. Deborah birx denied any political fast tracking. The American Public should be assured there are no shortcuts in the Vaccine Development part. Reporter yet, on the ground, dr. Richard novak, who is leading the chicago site of modernas phase three trial, says he is feeling pressure to move quickly or potentially get shut down. Do you have any sense that that pressure is for political reasons . Are you being asked to cut corners . There is some political pressure, and, fortunately, i feel like weve been mostly shielded from it. Reporter if you are feeling some political pressure to move things along quickly, are americans right to be skeptical . I think americans do have a right to be skeptical, but if this process is allowed to complete, im very confident that well have a safe and effective, or multiple safe and effective vaccines. Reporter dr. Novak told us that that pressure comes from having to enroll as many participants as quickly as possible. The more participants a trial has, the faster scientists may be able to tell if it works, and the f. D. A. Could even approve a vaccine before a phase three trial is complete. Norah. Odonnell a very informative interview. Adriana diaz, thank you. Total coronavirus cases in the u. S. Now top 6. 3 million. The virus has killed more than 189,000 americans. And theres disturbing news tonight about the number of children testing positive. More than 70,000 kids were diagnosed in the last two weeks, just as school is starting. Heres cbs omar villafranca. Reporter from arizona to new york, thousands of students returned to school today for in person classes. On long island, parents seemed nervous and excited as they dropped their children off. In richardson, texas, students lined up for temperature checks before entering the building. Forester elementary in san antonio is usually packed with 850 kids. But this morning, only 53 opted for inperson classes. Kelly mantel is the principal. Today, you know, i feel like theyre just a little off balance, maybe a little bit, with the rooms looking different, everybody wearing masks. But i think it is going to become a new norm for a little while, and children are going to get used to it. And were getting used to it every day that goes by. Reporter at some school districts, Virtual Learning came to a virtual halt this morning as technical glitches kept thousands from logging in. As schools move towards in person learning, new numbers show more than half a million u. S. Children have tested positive for the virus since the spring. Those numbers have some teachers worried. In suburban phoenix, the first day of inperson classes was canceled at Cactus Shadows High School after teachers called in sick. In new york, new cases are up more than 25 compared to two weeks ago. And with new York City Schools preparing for inperson classes in a few weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo is trying to quell parents fears. Were going to have a covid report card for every school in the state. Reporter going to class made it to the courtroom in iowa. The Des Moines Public School system wanted to start the school year 100 online. The state wanted kids in the school. Well, today, in iowa, a court ruled that the state sets the rules. Norah. Odonnell omar villafranca, thank you. The stock market took another hit today. Largely to blame, tech stocks. The dow dropped more than 600 points today, a little more than 2 . Thats its worst threeday stretch since june. The nasdaq fell 10 over the past three days, three trading days, rather, meaning the index has just entered correction territory. Tonight, President Trump is facing pushback from both a top military leader and his leading covid expert after he made questionable claims at a labor day press conference. The president is also dealing with an unexpected cash crunch as the campaign enters the final stretch. Cbs weijia jiang is traveling with the president in North Carolina. Reporter with the president ial campaign after labor day considered a sprint to the finish, President Trump and joe biden are questioning each others physical and mental fitness. Joe doesnt have the strength. He doesnt have the mental capability to control these people. Look at how he steps and look at how i step. Watch how i run up ramps and he stumbles down ramps, okay . Reporter both campaigns will crisscross the country this week, hoping to get an edge in the key battleground states. The president started in florida today. Im thrilled to be back. Reporter where a new poll shows he and biden are deadlocked in the crucial state. The Trump Campaign and Republican National committee are burning through cash, having already spent more than 830 million. The president said hes ready to dip into his own pockets. If i have to, ill do it here, but we dont have to. Reporter mr. Trump also appears to be banking on an approved Coronavirus Vaccine as a possible october surprise. So were going to have a vaccine very soon, maybe even before a very special date. Reporter today, dr. Anthony fauci was less optimistic. Its unlikely that well have a definitive answer at that time. More likely by the end of the year. Reporter the president s recent remarks about the military are under fire, too, after denying multiple reports that he called Fallen Soldiers losers, and suckers. Im not saying the military is in love with me. The soldiers are. The top people in the pentagon probably arent becaus probably arent because they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those Wonderful Companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make Everything Else stay happy. Reporter army chief of staff James Mcconville pushed back against the claim that military officials are motivated by business deals. The Senior Leaders would only recommend sending our troops to combat when its required for National Security and a last resort. Reporter President Trump won the state of North Carolina in 2016 by almost four percentage points. Tonight, his visit here is his third one in as many weeks. Thats because the race is so tight that our cbs news Battleground Tracker considers it a tossup. Norah. Odonnell all right, weijia jiang, thank you. And there is still much more news ahead on tonights cbs evening news. Extreme weather slams the west. Temperatures drop 70 degrees. Theres blinding snow and 100 mileanhour winds. New guidelines on when children should get their flu vaccine. Why doctors say this year its more important than ever. And why its the year of the moms at the u. S. Open. Im hector. Im a delivery operatins to pilt a fleet of electric vehicles. Were striving to deliver a package with zero emissions into the air. I feel really proud of the impact that has on the environment. We have two daughters and i want to do everything i can to protect the environment so hopefully they can have a great future. I can to protect the environment your bank can be virtually any place you are. You can deposit checks from here. And you can see your transactions and check your balance from here. And pay bills from here. Because your bank isnt just one place. Its virtually any place you are. Just download and use the chase mobile app. Visit chase. Com mobile. Diabetes and raised triglycerides,. Vascepa can give you something to celebrate. Vascepa, when added to your statin,. Is clinically proven to provide 25 lower risk from heart attack and stroke. Vascepa is clearly different. First and only fda approved. Celebrate less risk. Even for those with family history. Dont take vascepa if you are. Or become allergic to icosapent ethyl or any inactive ingredient in vascepa. Serious side effects may occur like heart rhythm problems and bleeding. Heart rhythm problems may occur in more people. With persistent cardiovascular risk or who have had them in the past. Tell your doctor if you experience an irregular heartbeat or other heart rhythm problems. Possible side effects include muscle and joint pain. Celebrate less risk. Added cardio protection. Talk to your doctor about adding protection with vascepa. peter walsh people came and they met and they felt comfortable. Talk to your doctor about adding protection its what we did with coogans. You felt safe and, if you were safe, you could be joyful. Everybody has a coogans. And almost half those small businesses, they could close if people dont do something. We have to keep our communities together. Thats how we get through this. Im szasz. [norm] and we live in columbia, missouri. We do consulting, but we also write. [szasz] we take care of ourselves constantly; its important. We walk three to five times a week, a couple miles at a ti