"Late Season Heat Wave Stokes California Wildfire Fears"

"LOS ANGELES - The fall season has brought a wave of hot, dry weather to California, with parts of the state baking this weekend in triple-digit temperatures and officials expressing concern the summer-like heat could spark a massive wildfire.

The scorching temperatures came from a high pressure system in the U.S. West and the arrival in Southern California of autumn's first Santa Ana winds, which carry hot air through mountain passes toward the coast, meteorologists said.

In Los Angeles, thermometers in parts of the city's sprawling San Fernando Valley could read 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (38 to 41 degrees Celsius) on Saturday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Sukup."

Alex Dobuzinskis reports for Reuters October 4, 2014.