>> a lot of excitement. >> you have no idea. everybody is a niner fan today. any bar or restaurant across the bay area with a tv was crowded with 49 faithful. we went looking for carolina panther fans but we could only find more niner fans. [cheering] >> of course, fans got rowdy during the game but the moment the 49ers pulled off the win, things got crazy. [cheering] >> who won today? >> 49ers won today. very important when you're in the playoffs. [cheering] >> the crowd found nothing but

niner fans at the food park where a dozen big screens were set up to watch the game. >> we're going to win, baby, we're going to win. win this game, and then we're going to go to seattle, take seattle, and go to the super bowl. >> this is my team. i'm going to have hard time if we don't win. >> lucky for her, they win. next stop, seattle, and he better save his voice in san francisco, abc7 news. >> some lucky niner fans were celebrating at the game. take a look at this picture tweeted by the 49ers. these fans were right. seattle-bound with a little carolina layover. we'll have fan photos later in the newscast. >> to the highlights and player reaction, mike shumann is here. physical game. >> no question. the 49ers do whatever it takes to win, never more evident today

in carolina. 15 seconds before the half, 49ers down 10-6. colin kaepernick hits vernon davis. ruled incomplete, but the call was reversed. second foot is down. third quarter, 49ers driving, kap on the score. that's when the defense took over. carolina on an eight-minute drive, ends up with nothing. key drive of the game for the 49ers. 23-10 the final. 49ers head to seattle for the nfc championship game. larry beil is live in charlotte. the 49er defense carried the dispeople the offense did just enough to get the victory. >> no question, shu. the defense shut down airs when it mattered the most, and the niners now headed to their third straight nfc championship game and they'll take on seattle next week, after coming to cared and

win -- coming to cared -- carolina and winning. one key play was the play that you showed, vernon davis, the touchdown catch, corner of the end zone. able to drag his back foot in, keep it inbounds. niners 13-10, and swung the momentum in their favor. a funny store about the play. he had been working with frank gore, of all people to match that catch during the week. the defense shut out the panthers. five sacks, 23-10 win. the next stop is seattle. >> we know what we want. our goal is to win the lombardi. no matter how we have to do it. we can do it, and one game away from getting back to the super bowl. >> had the feel of that 10-9 game back in november. how did you change the feel of the game? >> we just really want ted play our style of football.

offense got things going, and we were able to put points on the board. our defense played its normal. we played a great defensive, held them to 10. >> seattle, they got nothing on us. >> there was a small but rather vocal group of 49er fans fans wo made the trek here to charlotte to watch the game. the next task is to get their tickets and travel arrangements to seattle lined up. i'll come back later in this newscast. we'll hear from they players and jim harbaugh 0, who said a win like this makes you feel like a mighty man. i think we can all agree on that. live in charlotte, larry beil, abc7 news. >> we'll have more reaction from larry and the 49ers locker room in charlotte and complete highlights coming up later in sports. the downtown berkeley b.a.r.t. station is open again after being shut down this afternoon after a person was reported under a train.

a b.a.r.t. spokesperson says the man was able to talk to paramedics before being taken to the hospital. the emergency caused the station to close for 30 minutes. the search for an arsonist intense identifies in the south bay as the community joins the effort. the fire department reports 13 fires since wednesday. 11 of them have been determined to be arson. all the fires happenedded in this shaded area on the map. sergio quintana is live from fire station 8 with the latest. sergio? reporter: in just the last half hour the fire department confirm there were three arson fires this morning. a few hours ago, residents have been showing at this fire station to pick up sketches of the suspected arsonist and contribute them throughout the neighborhood. one of this morning's fires was at a mobile home behind a church. crews were able to put out the

fire but there was damage to the structure. before that, residents were able to put out a different fire on 24th street. the third one was several hours later in the morning. this afternoon, residents in these neighborhoods met with city council member to raise awareness of the fires and encourage people to be on the lookout for what authorities are calling a sierras arsonist. >> want to make sure people clear out anything from their front yard that is flammable, everybody sees the sketch of the suspect, that they have the 9-1-1 and hotline number for arson, and make sure that everyone who needs a fire alarm or batteries can get them. we can supply it. >> knock on doors and talk to people. person to person communication, seeing if anything has seen anything suspicious, and just raising awareness. people have seen something, they need to report it. reporter: this is a sketch that is being distributed by police and arson investigators.

this man was spotted near a fire yesterday. that fire damaged the home of an elderly couple. they were able to get out safely. the sketch has been put together using images from surveillance cameras at neighbors' homes throughout the area where the arson fires are being set. the local fire union is helping out. they had put up $10,000 as a reward to help catch this suspected arsonist. reporting live in san jose, abc7 news. new video in tonight investigators from a number of agencies today returned to the scene of a tedly house fire on the peninsula. it broke out friday night in palo alto at a home on embarcadero. firefighters found two bodies inside. atf investigators, along with palo alto and sunnyvale fire departments combed the scene. no one would say what they were looking for. crews were hoping to enter the home yesterday but the structure

was too unstable. a man and his care taker lived at the home. >> an off-duty san francisco police officer is accused of shooting a person during a fight after a fender bender. the officer and the other driver pulled into a gas station where the two got into an altercation. that's when the officer fired her gun. grazing the other person in the leg. the injury was not serious. the officer was in her personal car and was not in her uniform at the time. a deal with iran being praised tonight by top u.s. diplomats. details on the temporary nuclear deal and what the president is saying about efforts to get stauffer on -- get tougher on iran. >> the water emergency in west virginia is stretching into another night. >> i'm meteorologist leigh glaser. i know we're in january but get

ready for some spring warmup. the temperatures will be climbing this upcoming work

president obama is announcing today a nuclear deal with iran begins a week from tomorrow. the six month agreement calls for iran to cut back on its-under rainal enrichment program in exchange for loosening of sanctions. the president adds he will veto any congressional attempt to impose new penalties.

>> hundred thon west virginians are enjoying their fourth straight night without drinking water. investigators are focusing on the check plant that caused the problem. a chemical leak from a tank into the river. the national guard may soon be able to flush the system. locals say the coal plant blamed for the spill is in bad shape. >> condition of the plant was not good. the danger was known to the previous owner, and the danger was known to the current own. >> officials say it will most likely be days before drinking water is restored. when it comes to gifts it's the thought that counts. 0 hope that holds through for astronauts. and taking a live look outside right now, a sunny day. meteorologist leigh glaser says get

to those who've been waiting welcome to covered california. the place to find quality, affordable coverage, and nobody can be denied because of a pre-existing condition. enroll today at coveredca.com.

it's been a good day on the international space station. the six astronauts got food and christmas presents. a supply capsule was pulled in by the station's robotic arm, carrying 3,000-pounds of gross russian equipment and ants for experiments. the capsule was delayed because of the station's cooling system problem. >> a piece of danville history is being rennovated, set to begin this week at the site of the danville hotel downtown. the hotel will be restored.

aren'tal ewans, retail shots and restaurants are planned. the work may cause minor traffic delays. saturday's mist and drizzle cleared out for a beautiful sunday. what's ahead? meteorologist leigh glaser has a look at the work week. >> a beautiful day across the bay. and people inside watching the win, and after the game was over, people out and about. live doppler 7hd not picking up much out there, so get ready for clear conditions overnight tonight. nice shot from our exploratorium cam, and you can see san francisco, 57. still 60 in oakland. los gatos, 56. another nice shot over the bay. napa, 59, 59 in concord. here's a look from the sutro tower cam, san francisco, and east bay right there. we'll keep it clear. high pressure will build in, a little offshore wind there.

warming begins tomorrow, and get ready for record highs once again this upcoming week. overnight lows, the cool nest the north bay in the 30s with the light winds and also the clear sky there. elsewhere we'll look for temperatures in the mid-to-low 40s. water vapor, tells the story. we had this little impulse move through yesterday and now look at the amplitude already of this ridge of high pressure. building back in, and that's going to mean storm track once again lifting to the north. and the next five to ten-day outlook, really no rain for the bay area. as high pressure will stay with us and it's just going to keep the storm track well to the north. so the ridge returns, and it looks like we'll have some record highs this week. in fact here's a little built of what you can expect. oakland tomorrow, 67. wednesday, 69 for thursday, and

if your in san jose, tomorrow, 66. check out wednesday, 72. 71 for thursday. so, the warmth is on the way. tomorrow you'll notice temperatures coming up. san francisco tomorrow, 64. antioch, 64. 66, livermore. the seven-day forecast, the warmup gips on monday, and then record highs expected wednesday and thursday as we top off into the mid-to-low 70s in some locations. on friday, few thin high clouds move in. temperatures drop, and the next saturday and sunday, we have a system that will brush by the north bay, increase our clouds, drop our temperatures might be able to squeeze out a few drops. >> shu is hire with ports. >> a big win. the 49ers are on their way to their third straight title

game. the defense going above and beyond the call of duty for the win. a complete breakdown of the game,

>> defense wins championships. that was never more evident than today. superman, cam newton, making his playoff debut. solid in the first half. can in the second, connects with steve smith. next possession, mike tolbert stopped on first and goal. holds them to a field goal.

right before the half colin kaepernick hits vernon davis, ruled incomplete. call reversed. 13-1049ers at the half. bolden, eight receptions, 136 yards. then kap keeps it himself. san francisco on top 20-10, after the play, kaepernick mocking cam newt to an's touchdown celebration. come on, kap. then defense took over. carolina, eight-minute drive, end up with nothing. niners get it back. need a long one to ice the game. third and long, give it to frank gore. 39 yards, leads to a field goal. 23-10. and then wittner sales it. newton, second pick of the game. 49ers heading to the nfc championship game for the third year in a row. kaepernick threw for 196-yards and a touchdown, and ran one in.

49ers head to seattle to face the seahawks next weekend. larry, we thought that 49ers would be victorious, and i think they're already looking ahead to another team i'm sure. >> no question, seattle is on their mind, and if you think back to december, the 49ers beat the seahawks at candlestick. i ran too into the niners owner after that game, and he said, you know, that win was nice, but the real game will be in january, up there in seattle. well, here it comes, and we'll see it next week. >> two teams that everybody was kind of looking at from the beginning. at it going to be a knock down dragout game. >> we've been in tough environments in the last two weeks and came out victorious. >> proud of our team for prevailing. a real good right before the game, and then every man, manned

up. when you go on the road and beat another team that's a very good football team, makes you feel like a strong, mighty man. >> a mighty man indeed. i think it's safe to say the niners are also feeling mighty good. and, shu, this is for you. live in charlotte, larry beil, abc7 news. >> you are a mighty man, my friend. moreñçç from larry coming up. >> cam newton did not like that. >> i'm sure. you don't mock other players. let's move on. moore from larry coming up. final game of the divisional playoffs, denver and chargers, and it will be peyton manning against tom brady. manning facing the chargers. peyton picking up where he lift off. gave denver the 7-0 lead. then second, finds welker. chargers chip away in the

fourth. rivers fines allen. second td of the game. the chargers kick a field goal. denver seals seals the game. are you kidding me? denver wins 24-17. patriots and bronco monday in the afc title game and we're down to the final four, and more at 6:00 p.m. right here on abc7. >> can't wait. ahead, your fan photos as the bay area i need proof of insurance. that's my geico digital insurance id card - gots all my pertinents on it and such. works for me. turn to the camera. ah, actually i think my eyes might ha... next! digital insurance id cards. just a tap away on the geico app. could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. everybody knows that. well, did you know that when a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, it does make a sound? ohhh...ugh. geico. little help here.

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>> at 6:00, playing fair or favorites? the decision made by the seattle seahawks today that riled loyal 49er fans. >> a federal lawsuit threatening to bring an end to a tradition at lake tahoe. the 49ers tonight are one win away from the super bowl and fans are sharing their playoff pride. here's a feline fan. that's adorable. loves his 49ers gear. kind of looks like panther there, though. e-mail us your photos or video to ureport@kgo-tv.com. you can also post them on our facebook page or tweet them to us at abc7 news bay area. that does for us at 5:00. thank you for joining us, see you at 6:00.

welcome to "world news." tonight, the rescues caught on tape. families saved from the floods, scooped to safety. others in life rafts. and tonight, the record winds. more than 80 miles an hour. tens of thousands without power in the west. homes destroyed in the east. on deck. the new signal that a-rod is planning his next move tonight. can the one-time golden boy of baseball save his career? and tonight, was this super charged third baseman afraid of needles? foreign affair. the drama playing out tonight. the world leader hiding under a motorcycle helmet. the photo that's launched a flurry of headlines over who it was he was visiting. and a mother's will. the boston bombings took both of her legs. then the marines, amputees themselves, visiting her with a promise. >> i can't do anything right now. >> right now, yes, but --