Budget. Reporter consumed over 1 million acres in california. Caused billions of dollars of damage and put pressure on 1. 8 billion budget. Approaching half the agency as entire budget halfway through the fiscal year. 275 million more than cal fire set aside as emergency fund. We always watch budget closely. Be fiscally responsible. But its clear in the climate were living in, we have to have the resources to battle the fires. Stay focused and be able to respond to changing environment were experiencing in california. Reporter says its working closely will the department of finance and legislature to keep Funds Available for fire lines to be staffed. On track for new record. Compared to past three budget years. Complicating the process is how the fire season, compared to four years ago, is running longer. Fire seasons today on average 75 days longer than they were. We have to change our mindset. One of the reasons weve invested additional money in staffing yearround and work we do ahead of the fires in Fire Prevention efforts. Reporter rural areas, more stay open all year. Usually only ten. And reimbursing others around the nation who helped bolster their own firefighters. Never has the magnitude of this years fires blackened so many acres and required so many resources. Abc7 news. A Donation Center that opened after the north bay wildfires ravaged santa rosa is no more tonight. Closed after dealing with multiple breakins. Reporter tells us what this means for fire victims still in need. Reporter these are the last kids able to take advantage of the Hidden Valley donation site in santa rosa. Volunteers been busy moving out. As far as physical items, were not able to keep it open. Reporter open since october to help families with children at Hidden Valley elementary, most of the kids lost everything when homes burned down. Since then victims come through to pick up items to rebuild lives. Need not as great as before but still coming by. Including vandals. Windows boarded up, doors replaced after several attempted breakins this month. Latest happened on christmas morning. At least two other incidents where someone tried to get inside. I dont think there was ill will towards us personally. But does underscore a critical knees in santa rosa for people who are local who dont have what they need especially as temperature gets colder. Reporter and as result, relief group closed down shop. Property manager says damage could cost up to 3,000. Feel horrible. So gracious to give us this space, no questions asked. Reporter organizers not turning backs to those in need. Continue to serve families best as we can with monetary donations. Reporter plan to make sure remaining items put to good use. Santa rosa, abc7 news. Also happening today, two Disaster Recovery centers in north bay are closing, no longer needed. Almost three months since the fires. And center in santa rosa will be turned into disaster loan outreach center. More spare the air alerts issued through the end of the year. Wood burning is banned to reduce air pollution unless its your only source of heat and you can do that. By december 31st, 16 spare the air alerts this season. Sandhya patel is in for spencer tonight with a look at forecast. Interesting year in terms of weather. It has been. Severe fire season so now the 16th spare the air alert issued. One of the problems is we have light wind. With light wind, nothing to stir up atmosphere or clean out air. As you look at live doppler 7, right now high clouds overhead. Next three days declared spare the air for friday, saturday and sunday. Moderate to poor expected through new years eve. Wood burning is banned. Good news, rain coming on storm impact scale, level one system between tuesday and thursday will bring rain. Hour by hour forecast showing you how much you might see and how long it might last. Encouraging news to clean out the air. Back with details coming up. Mountain view Police Investigating a deadly crash involving a motorcyclist and google bus. Not clear who hit whom. Happened near the google campus. Witnesses tell abc7 news several people rushed to help the motorcyclist but he was unresponsive sadly. Police not yet identified them. Google spokeswoman issued a statement. Saddened to learn of the tragic incident, our thoughts with all those affected. Japan soft bank reached a deal to invest in San Franciscobased uber. 15 stake in the Ride Sharing Company and curtails influence of ousted ceo. At 33 a share, sharply discounts value of the company to 48 billion, a 30 drop from a year ago. Drivers who work for uber and lyft face stricter limits for drunk driving. Illegal for them to work with blood alcohol concentration of. 04 or higher. Thats half the limit for adults in california. Taxi drivers are already held to that. 04 limit. Drivers in violation could lose license. Going to hold these drivers to much higher safety standard because carrying precious cargo, human lives, and enhances our ultimate goal of improving traffic safety. Take effect in july next year. Starting january 1st b. A. R. T. Fares go up almost 3 . Inflationbased increase every two years. Paper tickets up extra 50 cents but clicker card, avoid the fee. Hoping to cut down on fare evaders. And Discount Program is expanding, youth between 5 and 18. Currently expires after age of 12. Fares in the meantime increase for vta customers in the new year. Adultbased fares up 25 cents. First fare increase since 2009, but young riders will be paying less. Put a link to all the changes at abc7news. Com. If you take cal train, go pass, unlimited rides all year, 25 price increase january 1st. Zone fares not changing but parking lot will shut down here. Starting on tuesday, will have to park elsewhere. Temporary lots but main lot is closed as part of construction project to result in elevated tracks and new station by 2019. Days may be numbered for motocross track at Santa Clara County fairgrounds. Set to close for good but may hope. Jeannine, a glimmer of hope. Reporter lot of riders out here, just loving it. Cant believe one of the last rides here on the track. Adrenaline and speed is what drives so many to the motocross track at santa clara fairgrounds. Amazing family sport. Had the best times with my son here than anyplace else. Reporter used by beginners, seniors and aspiring pros. Only one in san jose. Next is in livermore. Riders cant believe its set to close. Sucks its come to this. Reporter land. Chris dilly who knows 408 mx who operates the track cant afford it. Told rent would be and doubled insurance requirements. New investor is willing to take on. Reporter but said he was told fmc was choosing not to have mote roe cross on the land. A new executive director has taken over, not aware of the new investor until today. Sure talk to them. We have so much demand for the land, had begun the process of figuring out how best to use the acres. Its news to me they want to negotiate. Were willing and hopeful. Reporter setting up meeting. Farewell ride january 4th but hopeful it wont be the end. San jose, abc7 news. It is probably not the way they envisioned spending the holidays. No. However it is the season of giving. Why long lines of people are waiting to give the government their money. Next . Reporter apple says its sorry for intentionally slowing down some older iphones. What the company is doing and customers are saying . Latest news with upgraded abc7 news app. Personalized push alerts for more of the news you want delivered to apple is taking a bite out of Battery Replacement charge as way of saying sorry to customers. Class action lawsuit last week claimed that apple slows down the prosecutocessors in older m. Say its just to help with battery. Reporter does your phone slow down . Definitely. Reporter how can you tell . It was fast every before. Reporter have you ever had iphone that just seems slower. Why i get a new one. Never knew this was happening. Just thought the new phone was better. Reporter but apple admits slowdown was intentional and claims it was fix for other problem, older battery that dies without warning. Just goes black. Shuts down. Hanging out with friends and phones shut down at 37 . Reporter in a Statement Apple said should go without saying we think sudden unexpected shutdowns are unacceptable. Slowing down the phones lesser of two evils. But amongst criticism we know that some of you think apple lets down. Apologize. Its shady they didnt tell the public but glad its found out and remedying it. Offering a new battery for 29 instead of the 79 or free if under warranty. And a Software Update will show you if the phone is slowed down because of the battery. Would you pay for the new battery . If it speeds it up. Not going to buy new phone. Reporter apple denies it was ever the intent. Have never and would never intentionally shorten the life of new apple product or degrade the User Experience to drive upgrades. They promise once you have the new battery, it will return to old speedy self. Abc7 news. Problem solved we hope. All around the bay area, people are rushing to pay property taxes before the new republican tax plan launches january 1st. Tax office, lines snaked through the building. Workers say ten times longer than usual. New bill limits deductions for state and local taxes to 10,000. For people in bay area where Property Values are sky high, much smaller return. Doing what they can. Celebrating the holidays paying a large tax bill to hopefully have a better refund to offset paying was last time to pay in person. Abc7 news at treasurer and Tax Collector in the city. You can come in if you have second installment bill. Drop in box, take picture for record. Highly recommends you make payments online or by mail. Wayne freedman in marin county Assessors Office in san rafael. Showing line going out thedoor. Stocks ended the day slightly higher thanks to increase among bank stocks. Wells fargo in the green, dow gained 63, nasdaq up by ten. If youre in the market for a few bricks, concord has deal for you. Selling commemorative bricks for the founder. Getting ready to celebrate 150th anniversary. He founded the community in 1868, calling his new village todos sant todos santos. Renamed it but hes still getting statue. Not only a founder but great concordian. When he had the first Swimming Pool in the city, any kid in the city could go to his house and go swimming. Bricks will be placed in the plaza where the statue will be unveiled july 4th. If you want your name on one, get your name in. One of the great cities in the bay area. We dont need cold but do need rain. Truth. Hopefully well see some. We will. Its not going to happen before new years day. Heres the deal. Live doppler 7, see some clouds time to time like right now. We have to wait for the rain until about tuesday night into wednesday of next week. I do want to show you a look at air quality forecast for tomorrow. Spare the air alert up for tomorrow through new years eve. Air quality will suffer as result of light winds and wood burning. Live picture now. Mt. Tam camera, nice view towards San Francisco. Bay bridge there. We need a storm or strong winds to clean out our air. We have a storm coming. View from tahoe. Not much appreciate snow. Its manmade on top. But 27 of average pack. Next opportunity will be wednesday into thursday. Temperatur temperatures 56 in San Francisco. Chilly in san jose. Gorgeous towards San Francisco from east bay hills camera. 50 in santa rosa, 40s for novato, fairfield. Sutro tower, visiblity is good d but not everywhere tomorrow. Its going to be dry end to the year and start to 2018 but then we switch it up. Wet pattern going into thursday. Hour by hour. Dense areas of fog for morning commute, particularly in north bay and around the delta. This fog pattern you normally see spilling over from the delta towards parts of the bay area, watch out during the commute. Those are the problem spots. Then look at whats going to happen for afternoon. Everyone enjoys sunshine. Hazy at times. Patches of fog along the coast. Tomorrow its chilly you have to bundle up. 40s along the bay. Highs are mild by winter standards. Peninsula, sunshine. Mid60s. San francisco, 62. Just like today, temperatures a little bit above average this time of year tomorrow. Napa, santa rosa, mid60s. North bay, 61. East bay, low 60s. Sunshine inland, hazy skies. 66 in livermore. Air quality is going to improve. Especially with level one storm coming our way, tuesday through wednesday, rainy pattern. Begins next tuesday night going into wednesday. Rainy pattern plays out thursday, possibly to friday the following week. Mild and hazy tomorrow. Duplicate on saturday. More clouds new years eve to new years day but dry for holidays. And potential wet pattern coming. Thanks. Heard that phrase, see something, say something. This man took it to the next the Dick Van Dyke shoe tlt. A wouldbe armed robber got a knock on the head in wendys north of sacramento. Daniel eating early dinner. Saw something, did something. Noticed him walk in with yellow plastic bag. At first thought it was gag. Then i noticed knife. Walked up to the window. Give me the money. I hit him hard, really hard. Could hear the chair crack. Wouldbe robber managed to run away to getaway car, no doubt nursing a head wound. A group of College Students home from winter break helped rescue a homeless man around san jose and los gatos. Quick silver county park. Noticed flashlight beam and pulled over. Probably 150 yards away from the roadway and driving by maybe 35 miles per hour. Incredibly lucky. Heard the man moaning in pain, called 911. Took about an hour and a half to reach him and get him to balance. There is a place along the california coastline unlike nowhere else. Veganic farm. He said veganic. Well explain why you may want your food grown this way. Also ahead victory for the well today, the former marine who allegedly plotted to attack San Franciscos pier 39 was ordered to stay behind bars while he awaits trial. Has family in merced, Court Hearing in fresno. Sister station reporter explains the decision. Reporter said it was difficult decision based on the fact that he has limited criminal history and made few if any violent actions. But also said hes made some of the most disturbing statements and violent threats. Had nine family members supporting him this afternoon. Some in tears. But terror and collected. Must be disappointed you didnt get out. Yeah. Reporter attorney tried to argue hes not a danger. Pushing for restrictions like monitoring. Said he was victim of Domestic Violence at hands of ex. And reminded the court he wouldnt be able to follow through with the attack. When judge asked how to weigh the backtracking of the responded that he backtracked because an fbi agent accidentally called him from defense department. As tow truck driver he receives calls from all different area codes all the time and returns them because could be needed. Telling him the mindset was for destruction of the united states. Asked if he would still follow through with the attack. Said his response was if he had an opportunity, theres a good chance of it. Judge ultimately said after a lot of thought and consideration, reasons to doubt alleged isis supporters state of mind, especially with voluntary psychiatric hold and struggle with depression. Defense has the opportunity to appeal today. Until then, detained without bail. Due back january 5th for next hearing. Fresno, abc7 news. New at 6 00, charges against arson suspect in antioch. Six fires started early hours of friday last week. Jose louis gomez was arrested that day and today charged with four counts of arson and one attempted arson. Others are still under investigation. No one was hurt. Plant in oakland is trying to make the best of messy situation. Car drove through the fence early christmas morning. Leaving thousands of damaged plants. Offering to sell them 25 up to 75 in sale starting tomorrow. Foothill boulevard and northeast oakland. Friday and saturday sale. Youve heard of organic farming but veganic farming . Its a thing apparently. Thats what you get when you combine two popular eating trends. Chris nguyen. Reporter this is Salinas Valley from drone view 7. Home to some of the most Fertile Ground in the country. Earth here is different. Lazy millennial farms in salinas, veganic farm. Combination of vegan and organic. Reporter same principles as organiccertified agriculture but goes beyond requirements. Californias first and only certified veganic farm. Reporter many use byproducts from slaughter houses. He uses none to grow his crops. Compost from Green Waste Company that collects waste from lawn clippings in residences up in san jose. And they compost that. Reporter any other nutrients needed are added naturally. No pesticides either. Keep planteating insects away naturally. Instead we introduce predatory insects and plant flowers to help keep the predatory insect population high enough. That keeps herbivore insect population low. Reporter says passion grew out of the concern for environment. Commercial livestock accounts for about half the greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. Believes using less animal waste in agriculture can lower the emissions. Gets a fresh bag from the farm every week. I hope its wave of the future. Would be awesome. Reporter could only do the planet good. More Energy Conscious and healthier for the planet and us and for the animals not to be milked or slaughtered for food. Reporter convinces people will see the greater good. Part of being a vegan is understanding the supply chain and how your purchasing impacts that. Reporter chris nguyen, abc7 news. Well theres about a month until the end of open enrollment for house insurance through covered california. 7 on your at home. Ld generate your own energy, or to save energy, unplug unused appliances. Do your thing, with Energy Upgrade california. Good riddance. Thats the theme of todays event in times square. People brought what they wanted to get rid of. Dropped in bin, tipped