A widespread and prolonged heat wave is expected to intensify fire concerns across California over the next few days, as temperatures rise and landscapes further dry out. Already, several fires are burning in Central and Southern California.

A heat dome building on the western side of the United States may break records this week, surging temperatures to 119 degrees in California.

Triple-digit temperatures will arrive in parts of Southern California on Wednesday as a heat wave descends, exacerbating the woes of firefighters who already are batting a number of wildfires across the region. The spike in heat is expected to peak Thursday and taper down by Friday evening, forecasters say.