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TheAssociatedPress WINTERS Crews battling a wildfire Monday in a rug- ged patch of far Northern California faced another day of triple-digit temper- atures and gusty winds as officials warned the flames could again threaten homes. Such dry conditions have hurt the fight against other wildfires in Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Washington state. In California, crews were able to increase con- tainment of the Monticello Fire to 35 percent in the steep mountains near Lake Berryessa in Yolo County. "We're going to have an aggressive attack not only from the ground but the air as well to maintain our control lines," state fire spokesman Chris Christo- pherson said. More than 1,600 fire- fighters were battling the blaze. One firefighter was hospitalized with minor injuries after a bulldozer he was operating rolled over. Another firefighter suffered a bee sting, and a third had heat exhaustion, state fire spokesman Dan- iel Berlant said. The fire has burned about 10 square miles since beginning Friday. It has been stoked by gusty winds and fueled by thick, brittle brush that has not burned for at least two decades and is extremely dry because of the California drought. A threat to roughly 40 homes in Golden Bear Es- tates dissipated late Sun- day, leading authorities to lift evacuation orders for the neighborhood. Jodi Westropp, 43, told the San Francisco Chron- icle that she was thank- ful her neighborhood was spared but understood the danger might not be over. "It's a risk here," she said. "It's just so dry." Firefighters who had been battling another wildfire northwest of Lake Berryessa were sent to at- tack the Monticello Fire af- ter the other blaze was 90 percent contained. It had burned nearly 7 square miles and destroyed two homes, Christopherson said. Four firefighters suf- fered minor injuries. Lake Berryessa, about 75 miles northeast of San Francisco, is a popular rec- reation spot that attracts boaters and campers dur- ing the Fourth of July weekend. Elsewhere in the West, more crews were dis- patched to the Colo- rado Gulch Fire in Blaine County, Idaho, as flames spread. The fire has black- ened a square mile since it started Sunday. Officials hope to have it contained by Tuesday. In Utah, a wildfire that has burned 5 square miles, a home and two cabins was 25 percent contained, and a lightning-sparked, 5.6 square mile fire in north- ern New Mexico was 95 percent contained. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Wildfireburning in triple-digit heat The Associated Press PLEASANTON A Northern California water district is offering residents recycled wastewater to use on their lawns and plants, as it tries to cut water use during the drought. The Contra Costa Times reports that about 60 peo- ple are now making regu- lar runs for the water from the Dublin San Ramon Ser- vices District, which also provides sewage services. The water is not for drinking. But officials say it can help residents meet a re- quired 25 percent water cut by replacing the freshwater they use for activities such as washing their horses. The amount of water the recycling station has given away so far is small com- pared to the 10 million gal- lons a day of drinking wa- ter that the district pumps to 77,000 people in Dublin and the Dougherty Valley in San Ramon. But officials say they are hopeful it will change peo- ple's attitudes about recy- cled wastewater. DROUGHT Northern California water district offers recycling wastewater services By Gillian Flaccus The Associated Press NEWPORT BEACH Life- guards along more than 6 miles of pristine sand in this Southern Califor- nia beach city had rescued more than 200 people by the time the call came to help a distressed swim- mer east of one of the main piers. Ben Carlson, a lifeguard with 15 years of experience, sped out with other guards in a rescue boat Sunday and jumped into the water, but he quickly disappeared un- der 10- to 12-foot waves. The 32-year-old, a pas- sionate surfer and one of the fastest swimmers on the 200-strong mostly seasonal lifeguard staff, was pro- nounced dead late Sunday after rescuers searched for him by air, water and foot for three hours. He was the first lifeguard to die in Newport Beach,wherelocalsandtour- ists alike flock to enjoy wide sandy beaches and waves that attract the attention of surfers worldwide. "Hejustlovedbeingouton thewater,helovedtheoppor- tunity to help people," said his father, Chris Carlson. "He was a water monster — that was one of the things that was so unbelievable to us; a lowly10-footwavewouldtake himoutbecausehewassoex- perienced." He said his son knew how to handle himself in 30- and 40-foot waves while surfing. "It's one of those pro- fessions that people think you're getting in the way of fun, or it's kind of a cake- walk job, and something like this happens, and peo- ple realize how truly dan- gerous it can be," Carlson said. The swimmer, who has not been identified by au- thorities, was brought to shore and survived. Conditions Sunday were especially treacherous, with swells of 12 feet or more crashing in without warn- ing and a strong current that took swimmers by sur- prise. Around 100,000 peo- ple packed the beach with about 80 lifeguards on duty, said Rob Williams, the city's chief lifeguard. "It's not typical that we always have 10- to 12-foot surf, but it does happen once or twice a year, and it happened to be a Sunday with fantastic weather on a holiday weekend," said Wil- liams, whose guards made more than 200 rescues and issued 3,000 warnings to beachgoers that day. The city gets 10 million beach visitors annually. The National Weather Service had warned Sunday of dangerous rip currents and high surf along South- ern California beaches due to a swell originating in the Southern Hemisphere. Beachgoers said Monday that a particularly huge swell surged ashore in the late afternoon, drenching blankets and upsetting pic- nics. Shortly after, rescue boats buzzed between the waves and helicopters be- gan flying low over the wa- ter up and down the beach. "The waves were huge. I saw it and I thought a tsu- nami was coming," said Shirley Reinker, 72, who has lived along the beach for 40 years. The fallen lifeguard was raised in the inland suburbs of Southern California but always loved the ocean. As soon as Ben Carlson was old enough to get a driver's li- cense, he tried to get a life- guard job about an hour's drive away in Newport Beach, his father said. He was one of the fast- est swimmers on staff, Wil- liams said. All lifeguards must be able to swim 0.6 miles in under 20 minutes and requalify annually, but Carlson had additional training to work on a boat as a rescue swimmer and drive patrol vehicles, Wil- liams said. COAST Da d sh oc ke d hu ge w av es ki ll ed l if eg ua rd s on NEWPORTBEACHPOLICEDEPARTMENT—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS This undated photo shows Ben Carlson, 32, a Newport Beach lifeguard who drowned while trying to rescue a swimmer off the Southern California beach on Sunday. ManagementReservesAllRights©2014. 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