Extreme heat across the U.S. Southwest will build on Wednesday and is expected to last for several days. In Southern California, there are major fire and health concerns.

Much of Southern California is bracing for a major warm-up as heat returns to the region, threatening dangerous conditions. In preparation for the upcoming weather event, KCAL News has issued a Next Weather Alert to warn communities about the extreme heat and increased fire danger.

An extreme heat watch was released by the NWS Hanford CA on Monday at 11:23 a.m. valid from Thursday 11 a.m. until Sunday 8 a.m. The watch is for Indian Wells Valley, Mojave Desert Slopes and Mojave Desert.

Governor Gavin Newsom is pre-deploying resources to Los Angeles County ahead of fire weather conditions.Video above: Sacramento region firefighters head to Southern California to battle wildfire According to Governor Newsom’s Press Office,

More than half a year removed from the devastating wildfires that tore through parts of the Los Angeles area, public officials say they aren't taking chances as fire chances soar amid a scorching heat wave expected later this week.

A woman wanted in a shooting Monday that injured a man at a California Closets business in Huntington Beach was killed later that morning in a police shooting in South Gate, authorities said. In a statement released Wednesday,