it was started by embers from a fire at a construction site joining us.ks away. >> that construction fire was at a housing development in west oakland causing some to wonder if the city could ever keep up with the demand tr housing. >> we had security cameras onsite. we had a security guard onsite. still this fire was started. >> that's the real estate developer who watched his development go up in flames this morning. he took a lot of precautions, but it wasn't enough. oakland's mayor is appealing to the public now for help. >> we call on everyone who lives around construction sites to monitor those sites, to call 911 if you see suspicious activity. >> it's almost like a civilian call to th fire consi suspicious.tors a into it. >> the fire destroyed four buildings in the project under construction. one deputy fire chief calls it a

big pile of kindling. >> that was at west grand and filbert.f joining the investigation into this suspicious fire which destroyed roughly half of this housing development under construction. the developer is vowing to rebuild. meantime the fire department investigating another suspicious fire at a housing project nearby. drone view 7 was over the charred remains of the ice house townhouse project which was under construction. here's what it looked like hours earlier. a massive overnight inferno sweeping through this 126-unit development. sky 7 captured the firefight from above. >> this escalated from a second to third, fourth, and eventually a fifth alarm response. >> reporter: 90 firefighters fought the blaze. they were able to save portions of the project, but 55 units were decimated.

the oakland mayor stopped short of calling it a deliberate act. >> we do not know whether this fire was caused by an arsonist, but we do know that arsonists have been trying to burn down housing projects in oakland. >> reporter: the builder of the ice house project says he knew about recent fires and took no chances. >> we had security cameras on site. we had a security guard on site. still this fire was started. >> reporter: about the same time tuesday morning, fire officials say there was an attempted arson at this residential project also under construction at peralta and 32nd. luckily no damage here. >> we're on heightened alert and awareness to find out what happened here and whether the two incidents are related. >> people need a place to stay. it's sad people are burning them down like that. >> reporter: a new problem was just beginning blocks away. thousands of these red hot embers started raining down forcing neighbors to get out. >> it was raining fire. >> reporter: several homes on isabella avenue were damaged by

the embers but neighbors akcted quickly. yeah, they acted quickly by grabbing a garden hose and dousing the flames before firefighters could arrive. the mayor says everyone is urged to call the anonymous tip line with tips. 510-238-4031. surveillance video camera footage from the construction site is now being viewed by police. cornell bernard, abc 7 news. >> all right. thank you. now, this wasn't the first construction fire in oakland. this is footage of a previous incident. one of five fires since 2012 not including today's. just a few months ago a coalition of builders put up $300,000 to help catch anyone responsible for burning down these developments. so far no word yet on the cause of the fires overnight. here more vid fromov t ok that extensive damage. as cornell just reported, oakland mayor says it feels like

this fire was deliberately set. >> abc 7 news is committed to building a better bay area and we're spending time on issues that have a big impact on your quality of life like housing, of course. >> we asked wayne freedman to dig deeper into what some call the housing divide. >> wayne joins us live now from west oakland. wayne? >> reporter: good evening. it really depends on who you talk to. some people regard these buildings as progress. others view them as repression. we spoke with both sides today. another major fire, another backwards step for developers. more angry words today from oakland mayor libby schaaf. >> an attack on new housing in oakland is an attack on keeping families housed in oakland. >> reporter: this was the sixth. there were two today. on peralta street, an arsonist took advantage of a change between security shifts, used gasoline, lit up a unit, and

security cameras caught nothing. >> the camera down there got unplugged and they were supposed to alert everybody and i guess they didn't. >> reporter: all of the fires both here and elsewhere in the east bay remain unsolved. police have this video of a suspected arsonist in june 2017. greg mcconnell represents a group of developers who have offered a $300,000 reward. >> they're saying help us catch this urban terrorist. because that's what it is. no other way to describe it. >> reporter: the word terrorism implies political aims. oakland certainly has them. especially now when looking at t gendjen gentrification and homeless. >> not that anyone here condoned today's destruction, but it did set a stage -- >> trickle down economics has never worked. it's not going to work. >> reporter: developers are

telling us these fires bring hidden costs to putting up these projects. not only in insurance but for security. that building on peralta, the owner spent $50,000 a month on security and it still didn't work. in oakland, wayne freedman, abc 7 news. >> thank you. we hope you'll join the conversation here. use the #better bay area to help with housing issues. together we can make progress on building a better bay area. a film maker who spent decades diving in shark infested waters off the coast of san francisco is now recovering after his first shark attack. it happened at the farallon islands nearly 30 miles off the san francisco coast. david louis is live at stanford medical center where the diver has been taken. david? >> reporter: you can see that ron elliot has been a very lucky man over the years. over 30 years he's been diving off the farallons looking at sharks and doing documentary femme ims and he's never used a cage.

but his luck changed today. sky 7 was already here at stanford medical center when elliot was brought by coast guard helicopter to the facility for treatment after he was bitten by a white shark on the right hand. now, elliot was air lifted by the coast guard after the sha at 11:00 this morning. you see his right hand bandaged and elevated to reduce bleeding. he was able to walk on his own without the use of a gurney. someone was there by his side. an indication he did have enough wits about him as well as enough strength to bypass using a gurney. ron elliot is well known for diving for sea urchin and doing underwater documentary work on the sharks. marine biologists say this is a big time for sharks. in "near miss" elliot talks about his love of diving with the sharks and never being

bitten. he was able to control the bleeding and was picked up by a boat in the vicinity. they brought him towards shore. the coast guard then delivered him to stanford medical center at about 12:43. marine biologists do a lot of research at the farallon islands but stay in their boats. his treatments -- his injuries are not considered life threatening. stanford medical center says they have completed treating him. he's about to be discharged. he has declined to do any interviews. we're live at stanford, david louis, abc 7 news. >> david, thank you. and this was the first shark attack around here since last december when a surfer was bitten on the foot in marin county. he survived. in fact, most shark attacks are not fatal. according to the shark attack data base, the last fatal attack in the waters off of our coast happened in 1984 when omar conger was killed while skin

diving off of pigeon point. three years earlier, lewis boren died at spanish bay. before that, you have to go back to 1959 when 18-year-old albert cogler jr. was killed in san francisco. all right. let's move on. odds are you've heard this during your day today. >> thank you. good luck. >> a lot of dreams tonight about buying mansions and traveling around the world. we are live in two stores that have recently sold winning tickets. plus, a house with a view. and it's already setting a record in san francisco. i'm meteorologist sandhya patel. it's cool here but not by october standards. we're about to switch it over to warmer weather. i'll show you when coming up. and a look back on a longtime member of the giants family.

profited millions from tobacco, oil, and wall street. as a rich developer, she violated clean water laws. now she's trying to buy this election. the lt. governor's office isn't for sale. i'm dr. ed hernandez. as state senator, i worked across party lines. held drug corporations accountable. invested in schools and middle-class jobs.

our campaign's people powered by firefighters, teachers and nurses. because i'll put you first - not big money. a kidnapping and a chase ended when pittsburgh police shot and killed a man suspected of shooting a family member. officers returned fire during a standoff at a home on west 10th street. last night's violent series of events began with a family dispute at another home in pittsburgh. investigators say the man shot a family member before abducting his estranged wife and their ba baby. both the mother and her child

ran safely investigating this shooting and considering what charges to file. thousands of health care workers began a three-day strike today at university of california medical centers across the state. abc 7 news was at ucsf's parnassus heights campus at the picket lines. they were accused of hiring lesser paid contractors. it has 4,000 patient appointments. it has also delayed some surgeries. someone could become an instant billionaire following tonight's mega millions drawing worth $1.6 billion. lottery officials estimate tickets with 75% of all number combinations will have been purchased. that's how many people are playing. there are 302,575,350 possibl30i

combinations of those numbers. sop if you bought one ticket, that would be your odds for winning. analysts say the most common numbers drawn recently are 1, 2, 14, 17, 28, 42, and 70. and the most common megaball number is 9 or 22. keep in mind those are recent random numbers that have popped up. it doesn't change the odds this time if you pick them or not pick them. chris winn customers buying tickets. >> reporter: i was the grinch asking why are you buying tickets when you probably won't win anyway. there are a lot of believers here in san jose. we are in front of o the probably the busiest spots in san jose to buy a lotto ticket. the parking lot is packed and if you haven't bought your tickets yet, you have until 7:45 tonight.

the sign helps with describing the hype. a mega millions jackpot of $1.6 billion that can't even fit on the display. >> unimaginable if somebody wins tonight. >> reporter: for employees at ernie's liquors in san jose, it's been a crazy couple of days. >> three, four people working at the same time. and we still cannot break the line. >> reporter: over the summer, a group of wells fargo employees bought their winning ticket at this location splitting a $543 million prize. hundreds of customers today trying to hit it big. >> i came because i saw them on tv and they won the megamillion. i thought i'd try my luck here. >> $110 for mega. i decide to buy because i feel winner. >> it could be a waste of money, but you cannot pass up the opportunity. you have to do it. you just have to come out and do it. >> reporter: the chances of

winning the jackpot are one in nearly 303 million. with the odds so long, why is it people play? university psychological professor says it's understandable why more people are willing to take a risk especially in a place like silicon valley where wealth and poverty intersect. >> everybody wants to be part of the story. they would talk about it as work or they talk about it am home or they talk about it at the street. and it's part of a thing. it's a phenomenon. >> reporter: a lot of people really hoping there's a winner tonight. but if that doesn't happen, lottery officials say that the jackpot could go up to $2 billion. good luck, everybody. we're live in san jose, i'm chris nguyen, abc 7 news. >> thank you. we'll send out an alert on our updated abc 7 news app after the drawing. you could use some of your lottery winnings to live at the foot of a bay area icon. it'll only set you back $45 million or so. if you win the lottery, who

cares right? this beautiful estate is just a stone's throw from the crooked block of lumbar street. if it holds, it would make 950 lumbar the most expensive house in the city. the property sits on two hillside lots and includes a structure designed by the famous architect willis polk. still tourists wandering by could not help but think of what the price could be for them back home. >> you can get a super super sur from ottoman empire. >> you could get a nice villa. >> what do you get in australia for $45 million. >> probably the whole country. >> if you take away three lessons from this newscastd loc. >> dan, you're right. it's all about location. and we have some of the best

weather in the bay area along with the views. take a look at live doppler 7 right now. we do have a combination of clouds that are just passing through the region. as far as rain's concerned, there are a few showers up around the pacific northwest with this cold front that's coming in. just check crescent city's observations and they're not seeing rain reach the ground. but certainly moisture up in those clouds. for us, just some beautiful high clouds there in santa cruz passing through the region. temperatures right now 61 in san francisco. mid-60s oakland. it has been a cool afternoon. highs so far the the low 60s to low 70s. you had to get out towards vacaville to see 70s. emeryville camera showing you 71. and livermore, 68 degrees. so check out your planner if you're stepping out tonight. peap out head out and get se errands run. 7:00 tonight, it's going to be in the mid-50s to mid-60s.

make sure you bundle up. definitely getting cool out there. high clouds at 9:00 p.m. then at 11:00 you'll notice those temperatures dropping mid-50s to the low 60s. a live look right now from our camera as we look towards richardson bay. you will see those clouds that are just going through our region. from our east bay hills camera, seeing some wispy clouds there. high clouds and patchy fog overnight tonight. gradual warming trend starts tomorrow with the warmest days friday and saturday. hour-by-hour we go tonight going into tomorrow morning. we're going to see some high clouds. we're also going to see some patches of fog tomorrow morning. but we're not going to see as much low cloud cover as we did. as that front goes through, drier cooler air will mix to the surface. by tomorrow night, we're looking at a bright sky across the bay area before the sun sets. full moon tonight, we're looking at temperatures tomorrow morning in the mid-40s to the low 50s with a combination of a patchy fog and a few high clouds. the temperatures are coming up a

few degrees. 71 in santa rosa. san francisco, 64. 69 in oakland. 73 livermore. fremont low 70s. palo alto 69 and 63 degrees in half-moon bay. want to turn your attention to hurricane willa. hurricane willa is a category 3 getting ready to make landfall over mexico. it is packing winds of 120 miles an hour. landfall expected in the next hour or two. it will quickly weaken as it bumps into the mountains there. heavy rainfall, 6 to 12 inches. could cause flash flooding and mud slides. of course the dangerous storm surge will continue along with the large swells and the damaging winds are expected. accuweather forecast, a mix of high sun and clouds. low 60s to mid-70s. it's a warmer day thursday. and friday, and saturday. but you notice we're going to ease you into that warming trend. by saturday, upper 80s. almost 90 degrees inland. low 80s around the bay. upper 60s coast side. and for those who like it cooler, you're going to see a drop in those temperatures.

the cooler continues into monday as the sea breeze picks up. you can download the accuweather app and download the app and track those temperatures. >> thanks. well, feeling dizzy by all the options at the car wash? >> it's kind of overwhelming just now. i came for a basic wash. >> just a basic wash. are all the car wash

a trip to the car wash gets your car clean but can be overwhelming because there's so many options these days. >> michael finney is here to help us wade through it all. you want the undercarriage washed or not? >> exactly. it's like when you go, undercarriage wash, tires, it's on and on. but do you really need a tire and wheel cleaner? what about a special undercarriage wash? huh? >> we want to know. >> before you go all in, listen to what some experts have to say. >> reporter: a good car wash is important to protect your paint and finish from dirt and other

debris that can sometimes leave permanent marks like bird droppings, tree sap, and bugs. and what about the array of extras anded a ons? are wheel shine and spray on wax worth it? >> definitely skip the extras. they'll wear off fast. >> reporter: but there is one car wash extra you should buy once in awhile but not every time. >> the undercarriage wash. get it done once a season to clean road salt off after a winter and mud and grime off after a wet spring. >> reporter: kourm report says automatic car washes are less expensive than hand washes. they're a good option if you don't have a lot of built-up grime. but you won't get the attention to detail that a hand wash offers. how do you know if you've choosen a car wash that will actually get the job done right? >> check out the cars leaving the location. do they look clean? super cheap car washes may use

old harsh brushes and rust your car through the process. >> reporter: and try to find a car wash that sprays down before the wash cycle begins. consumer reports says presoaking will get you on the road to a clean and shiny car. now, one more note. if you prefer to wash your car yourself -- yeah, right. using the wrong kind of soap such as dish detergent can strip a car's finish. using sponges for cleaning can leave swirl marks in your paint. >> michael makes me wash his car. missed a spot. >> there you go. >> i used to do that before i had kids. had the time. when abc 7 news at 5:00

california's public schools rank 44th in the nation. 44th. i'm marshall tuck, i'm a public-school parent, and i know we can do better. in the public schools i led, we got more funding into our classrooms, supported our teachers, and we raised graduation rates by 60%. that's why president obama's education secretary endorses me. we've done it before. now, let's do it for every public-school student in california. i'm marshall tuck. i'm running for state superintendent.

>> coming up at 6:00, coverage of the west okay things do not look good. also -- >> and the very grave danger is that there is a culture of secrecy. >> a new report names bay area catholic priests accused of child sexual abuse. i-team reporting explains why the problem is even worse than we knew. that's all coming up in half an hour at 6:00. >> all right. thank you. we'll see you then. bay area baseball fans are mourning the loss of the voice of really the sound track of

summer for many years. former giants broadcaster hank greenwald. >> and that's sliced to left field. it's another chance for mitchell. he makes a bare handed catch! >> many remember greenwald's reaction following mitchell's bare handed catch in 1989. later that season, greenwald was at the mike when will clark propelled the giants to their first pennant in a generation. >> and the pitch. and clark hits it up the middle! a center field base hit! here comes butler on his way to third! and the giants lead 3-1! >> he was just so good. hank made one of his last public appearances at an event sponsored by his alma mater syracuse university in 2016. >> greenwald spent 16 years broadcasting the giants, two with the yankees. .e retired from >> h suffered from kidney problems. he leaves behind his wife, two children, and a remarkable

legacy of work. world news tonight with david muir is coming up next. >> for all of us here, we appreciate your time.

tonight, breaking news. we're on the scene. the deadly outbreak involving children. the virus now being blamed for the deaths of six children at a pediatric care center. and tonight, there is word, at least a dozen more are infected. what caused the outbreak they're now calling highly contagious? also tonight, just two weeks until the midterms, and president trump's promise. saying congress will take up a new middle class tax cut next week. but congress is not in session. and the dangerous turn for politics in this country. the live bomb in a mailbox. authorities on the scene, detonating the boma eqart te i