street slow, fifth street and 280 extension. 101 is backed up back to silver avenue. one of those big commutes. like a get away commute today. finally for this report, we can talk about the commutes in the east bay, noticing traffic on north bound 680 getting through will be slow. eastbound 24 is slow. nothing out of the ordinary. this is what is normally looks like. a lot of the traffic hasn't made its way out of san francisco yet. back to you. >> thank you. we will check in with you throughout the evening. our ktvu's photo journivist making his way back to -- journalist making his way back to san francisco. this is a live look inside his van. we have a clock there on your screen. we just started the clock and we will time how long it takes

for him to cross the bay bridge at the height of the commute. we will check in with ben throughout the newscast. happening now, a worker's rally began in san francisco at the bart station and striking oakland city workers are expected to join. we are live at the event. ktvu's david stevenson is there as well watching and listening to what is being said. he will have a report coming up at 5:30 p.m. while that rally is going on in san francisco, little action with negotiations ktvu's ken pritchett is trying to find out why there haven't been face to face negotiations. ken, what is going on. >> reporter: outside the caltrans building. this is neutral ground last night when bart and union representatives met before the talks broke down before the strike. if they meet again they will

meet at this location. both sides blame the other sides. >> reporter: it was not just the rank and file of bart union workers attending this rally. the negotiators were here too. a sign no one was at the table. >> i gather talks have been suspected. >> she said at noon today she heard nothing from bart leadership in 12 hours, since the latest offer that included a raise. >> $1 a head. four years from now will not revolve this. >> the union will return to talks when it has a substantial proposal. >> one that we increased on saturday. that they have yet to respond to in a meaningful way. >> reporter: bart doubled its raise offer to 8% over 4 years. there are other issues

concerning healthcare and pensions but we are left with this. a strike. massive traffic backups. and both sides blaming the other. >> i would say this is the worse negotiations i participated in. >> we are sorry for the disruption with the traffic. we hope to get our people back to work and the trains rolling. >> reporter: talks could resume at any time. there is just no indication that will happen today. at 6:30 p.m. we will have representatives of bart and the union live to answer questions about what took place today and where the negotiations may be going forward. ken pritchett, ktvu channel 2 news. >> more details now on wage and compensation. according to bart the average worker makes $71,000 a year but

the union claims that number is inflated by executive salaries and the average operator and agent make $62,000. bart claims union employees receive $52,000 worth of benefits and they only have to pay $92 a month for healthcare. but the union argues they don't receive social security and workers have to contribute $800 a month for health insurance. bart says workers are not required to contribute to their retirement which would pay $42,000 a year when they retire after 30 years. the union claims after 20 years of work an employee gets $25,200 a year. >> without bart today many turned to buses to get to and back from work. ktvu's jade hernandez is live in san francisco where that option may not be around later

this week. >> reporter: that is right. we don't know where a.c. transit st right now, mtan directing traffic. howard and beal and across street from the transbay terminal and the line is growing by the minute, so have wait times to get from san francisco to the east bay. >> i am giving them the schedule. >> reporter: the terminal at 3:00 p.m. today had lines forming with commuters trying to get home. at first it was 10 minute, that grew to 25 minutes. a.c. transit reports it had dozens of staffers who volunteered to drive. one womb decided to go -- woman decided -- woman decided to go to work early. she worried commuters might have bigger problems on their

hands later this week. >> we don't know if a.c. transit is going to strike. as long as they are working, i am fine. >> reporter: a.c. transit and atu are still at the bargaining table. their contract expired last month at midnight. last night they said they would give the public 24 hour notice it they decide to strike -- notice if they decide to strike. he said eyes had a hard -- employees had a hard time commuting tonight. visitors wantered to a bart station only to turn back. -- wandered to a bart station only to burn back. bart riders had to find around the city. >> i seen lot of people in the street -- >> reporter: 30 minutes ago i

checked in with a.c. transit, they provided provided the heaviest service to the transbay routes. and i have been told that they are also keeping up with regular service. there have been no reports of incidents or angry passengers. he saw facebook posts encouraging and praising operators and operations today during the bart strike. reporting live, jade hernandez, ktvu channel 2 news. >> buses are from bart. they are offering free limited bus service during peak commute howevers. this morning people lined up -- hours. this morning people lined up early. they will run again tomorrow morning from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. it is first come and first serve and you have to keep your ticket to get a ride back. >> the ferry was packed today. ktvu's paul chambers is live.

how bad are the lines? >> reporter: bart strike is causing headaches for many commuters. on top of the ferry right now. going to ride it to oakland from the san francisco bay. -- from the san francisco bay. it made a lot of people upset but they are happy to make it into the city. >> the evening commute has begun and so has the rush to make the ferry. >> i hope bart starts soon. >> they know the strike is here. >> reporter: day one brought 7,835 passengers to the ferry system. that is three times a normal day and it ated three more vessels and extend -- added three more vessels and extended hours. long lines hopped a ride into san francisco. now it is time to go home.

>> agreed readjust my schedule -- i had to readjust may schedule. >> he planned ahead, tacking bart last -- taking bart last night to go to class. >> now i spent an hour on muni getting back here to this point. i still got to get to work. >> the ferry was able to accommodate 178 additional riders. the ferry is not recommended as a commute alternative because it operates 100% most days, with the added people parking wasn't pleasant. >> over flow parking lot is full. this is full. so i don't think she catching the ferry. >> reporter: he did make it on board and they are working ways to take care of the parking issue. you can see we are on top of the ferry. we will take it across from the

ferry building to oakland and give you a live report and keep you updated. paul chambers, ktvu channel 2 news. >> the bart shut down is costing people time and money. here is a comparison. the cost of a bart ticket from downtown is $3.15 one way. and that ride normally takes 11 minutes. the a.c. transit bus from oakland san francisco is $4.20 one way. that trip takes 20 minutes or more. the ferry from oakland to san francisco costs $6.25 one way and takes 30 minutes. some commuters are making their ways in carpools. casual carpool signs are posted on spear and beal streets.

there are also pick up spots near the transbay terminal. and stay with ktvu channel 2 news for continuing coverage on the bart strike. sal castaneda will have updates every 15 minutes. at 5:30 p.m. we will take you back to the bart strike and we will keep you posted on the ferry commute with paul chambers who is on the ferry. also we will introduce you to the people who avoided the traffic by tell commuting. and then we will look back at the morning commute, the long morning commute. also our coverage continues with a extra half hour to 7:00 p.m. to update you on the traffic condition. following developing news in colin caulk -- in contra costa county with a wildfire. it started this afternoon. firefighters from contra costa county and cal fire are

battling the flames. ktvu's john fowler was one of the first reporters at the scene. he is live to tell us about the progress made by fire crews. >> the road remains shut down. this is an active fire scene. you can see smoke from the other side of the ridge. now we have just got an update. 300 acres burned and homes are still threatened. >> reporter: flames roared through dry brush, grass and trees. blackening hillsides. cal fire helicopters and air tankers attacked from above. firefighters protected homes in the flame's path. >> the flames were covering the hillside. i have never been so scared. >> reporter: dense smoke

forcing animals to flee. firefighters struggled in 95- degree heat. gusting winds and brutal hills. >> canyons are steep on both sides. presents a problem for the firefighters trying to access it on the ground and for the aircraft that are fighting from the air. >> reporter: back live you can see the smoke still coming up over the ridge. the area of pittsburg on the other side is where the fire is burning now. firefighters say three small buildings were destroyed but nun of the 25 homes that were threatened. we learned firefighters have 25% containment. investigators say they don't know the cause of the flair. power lines are down. that could be the result or the cause. we will stay here on scene and gather more details and have more at 6:00 p.m. reporting live, health and science editor john fowler ktvu channel 2 news. another brush fire in contra costa county.

the fire grown to 300 acres. cal fire tells ktvu channel 2 news there are no evacuations orders at this time. let's talk about the heat and the conditions facing firefighters. rosemary orozco is tracking the weather. what are we looking at? >> very hot out there. hot temperatures play a role in the fires. it allows it to burn faster and more robust. 100 degrees right now out there where the fire is burning in contra costa county. the winds are gusting to 15 miles per hour. in the hills sometimes they could take on their own gusty conditions. right now this is what i can tell. 15 miles per hour. from the west. it is a moist air from the pacific. if there is any news that may be good news. it is dry out there. you can expect the smoke to move towards antioch,

brentwood. the temperatures were hot around the inland communities. triple digits around 4:00 p.m. today for the inland, east bay, south bay and north bay. coming up temperatures and the excessive heat warning that has been extended for another day. back to you. some people are laughing off the bart strike. >> yes. long commute. [ laughter ] >> new at 5:30 p.m. the strategies some are taking. >> and bart employees aren't the only ones on strike. the other workers that walked off the jog. >> and relicensing a barge pilot when a oil tanker hit the bay bridge. >> we clock the commute across the bay bridge. a look at the view from behind the wheel. how long it takes to get over the bay bridge. 15 minutes. you will not believe how far he has gone.

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>> the first day of a bart strike. sal castaneda has been helping us navigate the roads. ben moved one block in the past 15 minutes. >> reporter: i believe it. completely. because of all the extra vehicles in san francisco. they come in, usually we don't have that many cars so it will be a tough ride. news chopper 2 has a look right now at the 101 and 80 freeways. coming together here at the split and getting on to the bay bridge. 101 is backed up to 280. and 280 is backed up down to 6 6th street.

as we saw ben creeping along on the embarcadero, it is very slow. also slow on first street on the hill. slow on harrison street creeping up the hill to the bridge. all the streets are very, very slow because a lot more vehicles in san francisco today because of the strike. let's go to highway 24 eastbound here. you can see on the left, eastbound towards walnut creek. not that bad. no bart trains running. we will look at 880 and that traffic is getting busy in oakland. back to you in the studio. >> you have been covering traffic for years now, how much worse is it tonight than a normal monday night. >> reporter: if it usually takes 45 minutes, double that. it looks the same but it is

going slower. the backups may look the same but it is taking you longer to get there. we look at a live picture of news chopper 2, no collisions because everyone is going so slow. >> that is the last thing we need. thank you, sal. new at 5:00 p.m. a veteran san francisco firefighter is facing charges after an on the job accident. michael quinn is charged with driving under the influence, hitting and injuring a motorcycle rider and leaving the scene. it happened last friday, a block from the fire station while he was driving the fire truck in response to a call. the firefighter walked back to the firehouse after the accident and tested positive for alcohol. >> been a firefighter for 23 years. been a very upstanding member of the department. has no prior disciplinary

issues. >> he was released from jail on $85,000 bail. the attorney general could get the case tomorrow to decide on what if any charges to file. police say the motorcycle rider injuries were not life threatening. the pilot of a oil tanker will keep his license. he was piloting the tanker when it hit one of the bay bridge towers. the commissioners didn't take away his license but they suspected it for 5 months and put him on two years probation. back to the weather now. our chief meteorologist bill martin is off. rosemary orozco is filling in. it has been hot. including today. >> you are right and there is no let up. we will continue with this hot, hot weather.

another scorcher. some above 100 degrees this afternoon and we will continue through mid-week. the models backed off on cooler weather wednesday. we may see temperatures dip but it could hold through thursday with better cooling coming. the heat warning has been extended through wednesday inland. valleys and the hills hills. as soon as you get away from the water you are included in this. 100 degrees in areas around concord. 101 fairfield. 99 livermore. 67 san francisco. we have a onshore breeze moving into the bay. seeing patchy fog through the golden gate bridge as well. here is the system that

continues to be parked where it is and brings us hot weather. it is also bringing us monsoonal moisture in the way of high clouds. tomorrow we will see more. saw a few patches today. if you get into areas over the sierra, dry lightning, a concern here. south of tahoe. this is the case today and 4th of july. if your plans theclude heading to the seair -- include heading to the sierra stay tuned. patchy fog along the coast line, high clouds in the forecast. for the afternoon 100 degrees for santa rosa. 104 concord. 104 livermore. mid-90s san jose. around the bay 70s to 80s. coast it will be cool to mind. upper 60s to 70s. extended forecast, no relegal for today, tomorrow, 4th of july, thursday -- no relief for today, tomorrow, 4th of july thursday. 60s at the coast. and then e weekend

temperatures begin to fall off saturday and sunday look nicer. still to come here the latest bay area counties to perform same-sex marriages and the bart strike and the commute home.

same-sex couple tied the not today. a line formed before 8:00 a.m.

this morning. you will see them welcoming the couples. he is the first open laogai supervisor. the count -- open laogai supervisor. in san francisco hundreds of same-sex couples took their vow. 469 same sex wedding ceremonies took place. during that time anyone could get married on a walk in basis. >> todaying today college -- starting today college students will pay more on school interest rates. >> it is a risk i am taking.

>> the interest rate on loans doubled today from 3.4% to 6.8%. congress left washington for the 4th of july recess without fulfilling promises. lawmakers could pass a retro active plan but that is anything but certain. >> they weren't able to do it within the deadline. this time they have in the past been able to reach an agreement within the deadline. >> he does not believe the higher rates will keep students from going to college but when they graduate and have to repay they may put off big financial decisions. the committee estimates under the higher loan rates the average student borrower will

pay an stru$2,600. -- extra $2,600. ktvu's sal castaneda is in the traffic center and we will update us with a live report coming up. >> bart workers are rallying right now in san francisco. what they are saying about the first day of the strike and how long they are prepared to stay off the job. >> back now to the dashcam in front of ben's news truck. can you believe it has been 29 minutes on the road and he has gone 2 blocks.