2017: A look back at ABC7 News' most popular stories of the year
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The most popular content on ABC7 News in 2017 ranged from heartbreaking to heartwarming. Here's a look back at some of the year's most popular stories.
MOST READ STORY: NORTH BAY WILDFIRES
It's being called the most destructive firestorm in California history. Small fires fueled by extreme winds merged into six massive fires in the North Bay, burning more than 200,000 acres, destroying 8,900 structures and killing 43 people. Click here for full coverage on the North Bay wildfires.
MOST READ STORY RUNNER-UP: ICONIC CALAVERAS TUNNEL TREE TOPPLES DURING STORM
The beloved 'tunnel' or 'drive-thru' tree fell to the ground during a massive storm in the Bay Area that left rivers and creeks flooded, houses damaged and several thousand people without power. Calaveras Big Trees State Park volunteer Jim Allday says the tree went down Sunday and shattered on impact. He says the once-majestic sequoia is now a heap of rubble. Click here for the full story.
MOST WATCHED VIDEO: THOUSANDS EVACUATE AS OROVILLE DAM SPILLWAY EXPECTED TO FAIL
In February 2017, in the midst of widespread rainfall, Oroville Dam's main and emergency spillways were significantly damaged, prompting the evacuation of more than 180,000 people living downstream in Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties. Click here for full coverage on the Oroville Dam spillway incident.
MOST WATCHED VIDEO RUNNER-UP: DIY WITH DREW TUMA: HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ECLIPSE GLASSES
Drew Tuma helped out everyone who was unable to snag eclipse glasses to watch the Total Solar Eclipse with this DIY video. Click here for the full coverage on the Total Solar Eclipse.
MOST POPULAR TWEET: BERKELEY PROTEST
Violent protests moved through downtown Berkeley night after the cancellation of a speaking engagement scheduled for controversial Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos. Kiara Robles braved the crowd wearing a red "Make Bitcoin Great Again" hat in the style of President Trump's red hats, which made her and our crew a target. The video in the tweet below shows the graphic exchange between a protester and Robles, who was pepper sprayed. "I'm looking to make a statement by just being here and I think the protesters are doing the same. Props to the ones who are doing it non-violently, but I think that's a very rare thing indeed." She later told ABC7 News she was alright. Click here for the full story and click here for more stories about protests.
MOST POPULAR TWEET RUNNER-UP: OAKLAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
There was an unmistakable sign of just how severe the affordable housing crisis is in Oakland. Sky7 was over the hundreds of senior citizens who stood in line, many of them overnight, for a shot at a waiting list for subsidized housing. Click here for the full story.
MOST POPULAR FACEBOOK POST: FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN SF
It's a historic first for higher education in San Francisco. Mayor Ed Lee announced that the city will be the first in the nation to make City College free for all students, regardless of their income. Click here for the full story:
MOST POPULAR INSTAGRAM VIDEO: ALBINO DOLPHIN CALF IN MONTEREY BAY
Incredible video captured a rare sighting - an albino dolphin calf swimming in Monterey Bay! Click here for the full story.
MOST POPULAR INSTAGRAM PHOTO: YOUNG WOMAN HELPS BLIND MAN HAIL CAB
This photo comes from Ryan Hamilton, who was on a rooftop near Wrigley Field when he noticed a blind man trying to hail a cab for several minutes without success. As he continued to watch, a stranger walked up and asked the man if needed help. Hamilton said the young woman waited with him until one pulled up. As it all unfolded, Hamilton snapped a few photos and shared the sweet story on Facebook to "give her a shout-out."
MOST POPULAR INSTAGRAM POST SHARED BY A VIEWER USING #ABC7NOW: TUNNEL VISION
This Instagram photo from @vpiombo, shared using #abc7now, shows the "tunnel vision" while traveling into San Francisco. Click here to follow us on Instagram!
IN MEMORIAM: CELEBRITIES AND NOTABLE FIGURES THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY
RELATED: Storms, fires and violent clashes: A review of the top news stories in 2017
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