>> tragedy in a fire situation. >> flames shot like a blowtorch from a third floor apartment. but fire was the least of their problems as a lazy sunday morning turned to pandemonium at the twin parks northwest apartments. >> everything in my apartment is black. the walls, the door, my kids. they just got us out in time. >> it was instead the smoke, a thick column of smoke, black as night, that turned a building into a death trap. an army of rescue workers pulled out one lifeless body after another, fruitlessly attempting cpr. late this afternoon, the death toll approached two dozen, the worst loss of life in a new york city fire in more than two decades. >> this is a horrific, horrific,

painful moment for the city of new york. >> my kids were screaming, fire. >> it started in the third floor duplex, which he lives with his wife and eight kids, one of whom was trapped on a burning bed. he has fires on his nose from when he leapt to the fire to save his daughter. so many of his neighbors did not survive. >> i don't want any i don't wa'' to stop. [indiscernible] >> neighbors either lost their lives or were critically injured. investigators do confirm it was a space heater in that man's apartment that sent -- set his daughter's bed on fire.

the big mistake was when they left the apartment, they left the door open behind it and that allowed smoke to escape and go up the fire stairs and turned the whole building into a death trap. 19 confirmed dead at this hour, including nine children. there are at least 13 other people who are right now in life-threatening condition in area hospitals. >> live in the bronx, josh scheidegger, abc 7 news. >> certainly a long night and days ahead. thanks. we pushed out updates about the fire on our abc 7 bay area news app, and that includes this one this morning as information was just coming in. we also live-streamed updates from fire officials. you can be among the first to know to download the bay area app and enabling push alerts. moving on now with the omicron variant's urging. experts say the demand for covid testing has never been more important and there are long

lines at sites across the bay area. abc 7 news reporter cornell bernard joins us to explain why a bay area city says it is being forced to scare back testing -- scaled-back testing appointments during this time. >> the public health departments as staffing issues may force some covid testing sites to reduce their hours, but one supervisor demanding issues tonight -- demanding answers tonight. lines for testing are long no matter where you are in the bay area. from santa rosa to antioch, where california national guard troops are assisting at this testing site. >> it feels good to support the community. >> in san francisco, check out this line protesting at school district headquarters, stretching around the block on sunday. >> as omicron is on the r re, rs iser the school district says it has given 11,000 rapid tests in the past week and distributed 57,000 home test kits. >> it is great that they are

doing these testing sites. the lines are long. people are being diligent about trying to get here. >> even a member of our bc seven news vaccine team was challenged finding a test after having a possible exposure. >> i wanted to confirm with a pcr tests and i had to go through my doctor and wait over an hour in a line to get one. this reality is not a luxury everyone has. >> the san francisco department of public health warns testing sites slowdowns next week, tweeting on monday some affiliated sites will temporarily reduce testing hours. please check your health system for testing. don't go to the er for tests. this is something we should be prepared for. we should have backup plans. >> he says some testing sites are experiencing staffing shortages at a time when covid is surging. >> all of a sudden, testing

capacity is slashed. these are things i think in the midst of the greatest surge of this virus since the start of the pandemic that we need more answers, more oversight and accountability. >> he says he will call at hearing next week about solutions to keep testing sites open, even expanding capacity. this we, the governor proposed bending more than $2 billion to battle the pandemic, expanding covid testing, and staffing across california. >> thank you. abc 7 news is committed to building a better bay area by focusing on your health. in the south bay today, the tech interactive teamed up with the santa clara department of health to offer a free walk-up covid vaccination clinic. anyone who got their shot was rented free admission to the museum. one mother told us she was anxious to get her son boosted. >> so excited because he is the one person in my family i felt least protected because he had

his first two shots this summer. with the uptick in omicron in schools, they have had cases across every grade level this week. as soon i heard we were doing this, i brought him in. >> the fda expanded booster shot eligibility for 12 to 15-year-olds earlier this week. for more information on testing sites or if you have questions about the vaccine, you can head to abc7news.com/coronavirus. happening right now, it is the biggest bay area sports day of 2022 so far. the 49ers entered the day with a chance to make the nfl playoffs. warrior superstar klay thompson is making his return after two and a half years away due to injury. chris alvarez joins us live at the two center with a look at all the excitement, a day you have been looking forward to for a while. >> i probably have been looking bored to this for two and a half years. i had so much -- i have probably been looking forward to this for two and a half years.

let's rule the highlights from sophia. -- from sofi. he throws it to jauan jennings, ties the game at 17-170. the niners were down 17-00. the niners had to go 88 yards. the niners kick a field goal in overtime and the rams going for it. the 49ers win it 27-24 in overtime. it is on to dallas for the wild-card round of the playoffs next week. >> our guys are real resilient. i have been very proud of them and i am glad we get to go into the tournament and be part of it. regardless of what happened today, i was proud of those guys. these guys kept fighting, not worried about anything else. in the meantime, i think we have done better each time doing that and overcome some injuries, too. >> what a game that was and what a moment. klay thompson, welcome back after 2.5 years after injury.

you can feel the energy. it is going to be crazy in 20 minutes when he is introduced to the crowd. we will be back here in a little bit. for now, let's toss it to a co after my car accident, i wondered what my case was worth. so i called the barnes firm. when that car hit my motorcycle, insurance wasn't fair. so i called the barnes firm. it was the best call i could've made. atat t bararnefirmrm, our r inry a attneysys wk hahard i could've made. atat t bararnefirmrm, to get you the best result possible. call us now and find out what your case could be worth. you u mit bebe sprisised ♪ the barnes firm injury attorneys ♪ ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪ aleve x.

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>> nurses across california called new guidelines for health-care workers who test positive for covid a major disaster waiting to happen. those new guidelines went into effect yesterday. the state says health-care workers who test positive for covid and show no symptoms can go back to work immediately without isolation and without testing.

they are required to wear and n95 mask. >> i think it is very callous and it is putting our patients and ourselves in grave danger. >> california's apartment of public health did not respond this weekend to questions about whether the guidelines could expose patients to covid. a spokesperson says the state is temporarily adjusting the criteria due to critical staffing shortages in health care. in the east bay, a group of oakland unified high school students are threatening to walk off campuses if the school district does not provide more covid protections or return to online learning. or than 150 high school students signed a petition demanding that the district provide king n95 masks to students twice weekly. they also want covid test. the students say the district has until january 17 to meet their demands. the district has yet to respond to comment. last friday, 12 schools had to close because of a sick out by

teachers who want more safety protocols. just ahead, an unexpected and very unlikely end to the search for a dog missing since august. >> the sweetest thing on the planet. just the most amazing dog. >> he got lost during w evacuations in tahoe and became trapped in the last month's severe thunderstorm. this pooch proves where there is a will, there is a way. >> clouds are increasing as you can see, but i have dry, mild weather in the forecast. that

>> we all love a good ringing story and this one is heartwarming. a dog's back with his owner after -- a dog is back with his owner after being reunited.

his owner is a traveling nurse who was in tahoe when the calder fire swept through. she was forced to evacuate and the dog ran off. fast-forward four months and he was found alive on a mountainside covered with snow. >> i followed the tracks and all of a sudden saw this dark shape underneath a tree. then he opened his eyes and i am pretty sure i screamed. i am pretty sure elsa heard me down the mountain. >> i probably would scream myself. volunteers used a sled to get rust to safety, cruising down the mountain like a sleigh ride. it took a few days to nurse the dog back to health, then they reunited him with his owner. what are the odds of something like this happening? >> unbelievable. don't you love happy endings like that? i could scream, too. [laughter] but right now, i am screaming about the weather. after a mainly sunny day, we have increasing clouds as you can see on this view.

looking back across the bay. current temperature readings, low to mid 50's at virtually every location. a milder 57 at morgan hill. at golden gate, we see clouds looking to the north-northeast, but not so cloudy in that direction. a cool 48 at livermore. these other locations at the low to mid 50's. santa rosa, napa, fairfield, concord. the view from the rooftop camera shows a lot of clouds over the bay. the clouds will continue increasing overnight. low temperatures not so cold as last night. a dry and mild pattern will be with us for the week ahead and the storm track remains to the north. that is why it is going to be dry. the animation shows clouds increasing. we will see clouds offshore to the north. it will be dry in the bay area, and during the daytime, thus guys get clear. -- the skies get clear.

upper 50's in the inland east bay, low to mid 60's everywhere else. starting wednesday evening, notice there will be a little bit of rain moving in our direction thursday, then we left out. we are expecting a dry week ahead. it will be very unlikely for us to get any precipitation at all. here is the accuweather 7 a forecast. pretty mild the next few days. theretheretheretheretherethere in temperatures later in the week as the clouds start to move through the bay area. we are not likely to have any precipitation at all. going into next weekend, mainly sunny skies and dry conditions once again. >> chris alvarez live at chase. we are moments away -- the 49ers going to the postseason.

a huge interception like.

when kids need medical care, they face life-changing experiences. they miss out on the things that make being a kid fun. starlight children's foundation programs entertain and inspire hospitalized kids. learn more at starlight.org >> now, abc sports with chris alvarez. >> welcome into chase center. the energy in this building is unbelievable. we will get back to klay thompson in a moment. the 49ers, they are going to the playoffs, and what a game it was. let's roll the highlights. jimmy garoppolo got the starting quarterback position. matthew stafford to tyler higbee. this is trouble for the niners. 17-3 they trailed at the break.

but the niners battling back. how about a seven play, 75 yard drive? right back in it, 17-10. they had one throw later in the third, and it is deed-bo. tying the game at 17-17. under eight minutes to go, niners driving, but garoppolo picked off by jalen ramsey. this was a huge mistake for san francisco. the rams ticket 92 yards the other way. what a catch. 24-17. the niners season on the line. they need to go 88 yards. garoppolo to jauan jennings, touchdown. 24-24. we head to overtime, of course we do. the niners kick a field goal so the niners can win the game. matthew stafford picked off by thomas. the niners are going to the postseason, 27-24.

they will be in dallas next week. >> i thought it was fun. we were just trying to get back into it. the way we did it with how many guys were down, i just was so proud of everyone in that locker room. they never stopped fighting. it is a really good team. >> i am just happy we were fortunate enough to go to the playoffs. we were down bad the first half, but we fought back into it. i am just really happy. we in the dance now. >> back out here live, get in closer to tip-off, warriors and cavs. klay thompson returning. let's look at some of the warm up video. klay thompson took the floor. there he was. he is making his return. 941 days klay was hurt. this will be his first game here at chase center. the warriors luck coming back a future hall of famer. >> he just loves the game so

much and he is able to play and go and immerse himself in the game and do so even in the most pressurized environments. tonight might be the most difficult game he plays in. 941 days with all that frustration built in. incredibly emotional for the rest of us, so imagine what it will be like for klay. >> the 49ers win. they take on the rival cowboys and warriors welcoming back klay thompson. the roof is going to blow off chase center. >> the energy is electric. not quite ready to stop celebrating the holidays? we do have a couple options for you.

i was injured in a car crash. i had no idea how much my case was worth. i called the barnes firm. when a truck hit my son, i had so many questions about his case. i called the barnes firm. it was the best call i could've made. your case is often worth more than insurance offers. call the barnes firm to find out what your case could be worth. we will help get you the best result possible. ♪ the barnes firm, injury attorneys ♪ ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪

>> if you are not ready to say goodbye to the holidays, you have one day to check out holiday events. this is the last day of blink easily mineta holiday in san jose. the experience features light displays, synchronized music. that runs until 11:00 tonight. today is also the last day of pier 39's performing christmas tree. every half hour from now until 10:00 p.m., the 60 foot tree comes to life. that is all the time we have for

this edition of abc 7 news at 5:00. stay with us and we will see you back here in 30 minutes for abc 7 news at 6:00. tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. at least 19 people killed today including 9 children after a a massive, five-alarm fire broke out in a high-rise apartment building in new york city. and officials warn the death toll is expected to climb. the fire started on the third floor of this 19-story apartment building in the bronx. flames and and smoke pouring out of the windows with residents trapped inside, frantically calling 911. as many as 200 fdny firefighters on scene, rescuing residents on stretchers. more than a dozen taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. many reportedly suffering from severe smoke inhalation. more than 30 others injured. the mayor tonight calling the fire one of the worst in modern times in the city. why officials think the deadly smoke spread so quickly. the other major headlines