A severe and dangerous heat event will blanket Los Angeles, and most of Southern California, beginning Wednesday and lasting through the weekend, prompting warnings for people to prepare, take precautions and protect pets, homes, the elderly and the medically vulnerable.

The National Weather Service called the upcoming temperature rise the most significant heat wave of the summer. The heat and dry conditions will also dramatically raise the risk of wildfires.

A red flag warning of critical fire danger will be in effect from 9 a.m. Wednesday through 9 p.m. Saturday in the Santa Clarita Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, Antelope Valley foothills and the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors. Those areas are expected to face “unseasonably hot high temperatures, generally

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