RED FLAG ALERT ISSUED, AS MERCURY HITS RECORD.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

Experiencing weather most parts of the country would consider summer, Southern California's winter continued Wednesday with record high temperatures, brush fires near the beach and dry winds through the canyons.

While the fire season typically ends in the fall - and maybe December during an unusual year - the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning through Saturday for high fire danger throughout the region. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s through Sunday.

Wind gusts reached 50 mph in mountain areas around the San Fernando Valley, and the mercury reached 87 degrees at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, squeaking past the record of 86 degrees 20 years ago.

In Malibu, about 300 firefighters worked a 34-acre blaze believed to have been caused by a burning vehicle found near Latigo Canyon and Newton Canyon roads, fire officials said. No homes were threatened in the fire that started about 5 a.m. and was about 50 percent contained by 5 p.m.

``For firefighters, the possibilities out there could be explosive,'' said Stuart Seto, weather specialist for the Oxnard-based weather service. ``This isn't giving firefighters any breaks.''

Indeed, firefighters who normally ready themselves for swift-water rescues this time of year were instead sent to parched hillsides.

``It's a little unusual this late in the season,'' said Los Angeles Fire Capt. Ernie Bobadilla. ``But being that this is California, we're prepared for all these weather conditions.''

Local residents are definitely prepared for the weather, and some sat at lunch in West Hills on Wednesday, basking in the sun.

``I was in New York a few weeks ago and I was freezing, so this is good,'' said Peter Yacoob, 27.

His friend Sean Younessi, 26, said he had noticed recently how warm it was and thought it was odd.

``Global warming does come to mind,'' he said. ``You start wondering about how glaciers melting will affect the rest of the world.''

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County health department issued a health alert because of smoke and air pollution from the fires in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The fire in Anaheim Hills had scorched more than 7,100 acres by Wednesday evening and was 22 percent contained.

``Although smoke from the fires ... may not be visible, air quality is being adversely affected,'' said Jonathan Fielding, the county's director of public health.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Firefighters watch a fire that broke out on a Malibu hillside at 5 a.m. Wednesday. About 300 firefighters had the fire 50 percent contained by 5 p.m.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer