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Air quality continues to register at unhealthful levels throughout southwest Oregon even as fire crews report increasing containment on many of the wildfires burning in the region. On Sunday night, air quality briefly took a dive into the “hazardous” category in Medford and Ashland. It was not much improved Monday, with Medford and Shady Cove air quality hitting the “very unhealthy” range into the afternoon hours. Klamath Falls, Ashland and Grants Pass were at “unhealthy” and Cave Junction had dipped to “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Tuesday doesn’t look to be much different, according to the National Weather Service. A 24-hour smoke forecast posted on the agency’s Facebook page showed smoke from area fires will continue to envelop much of southwest Oregon and Northern California. The thinnest surface smoke is expected to be along the coast from Eureka south and from Coos Bay north, north of Roseburg and east up toward Bend. “Even those areas probably won’t be totally immune from some smoke, whether it’s high level (lofted) or at the ground,” the post reads. “Stay inside if you can in a well-filtered air conditioned building.” During the afternoons, most of the smoke is expected to continue flow into the Rogue Valley from the west and northwest off blazes that include the Taylor Creek and Klondike fires. During the night, more smoke is expected from the northeast where several fires are burning north of Lost Creek Lake. “It’s one of those patterns that’s conducive to keep the wildfire smoke where it is,” meteorologist Marc Spilde said. N95 and P100 particulate masks with the “NIOSH” label are encouraged for anyone who has to be outside, officials added. The temperature is also expected to hit triple digits Tuesday through Thursday in parts of Jackson County, too, with highs of 100, 104 and 105 forecast for the three days, respectively. “That’s kind of the peak of the heat,” Spilde said. And in the midst of all the heat and smoke, firefighters continue to work toward containing the numerous wildland blazes around the region. Here’s a rundown: Miles/Columbus/Snowshoe/Roundtop fires The name has changed for this group of fires burning in northern Jackson County and southern Douglas County. Previously they were referred to as the South Umpqua Complex and Sugar Pine fire, among other names. The multiple fires started by the July 15 lightning storm have undergone some revisions in size, as many of the blazes crossed county and management area boundaries, and joined up with others. “Both of those incidents had several fires within their management area, and as times went on, we ended up merging several fires, including across some of those management areas,” said public information officer Christa Sadler. “We are now under one management team under unified command.” The Miles fire, for example, “absorbed” the Sugar Pine fire, due to the Miles fire’s larger acreage. That unified command is now fighting the Miles/Columbus/Snowshoe/Roundtop fires. As teams get a better handle on the blazes, some of the names will drop off, shortening the name, Sadler said. The total acreage on the four fires is 37,726 acres and they are listed at 18 percent contained. The Roundtop fire is nearing full containment. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department expanded the area for level 3 and 2 evacuation zones near the Miles fire Monday. But the expanded zone for the fire burning near Prospect does not affect any new homes, according to a sheriff’s department news release. The new level 3 — “go now” — area now includes the upper portion of West Branch Elk Creek Road, already closed to public traffic at its intersection with Elk Creek Road. The new level 2 — “get set” — area is now located to the west and south of the new level 3 area. The level 3 evacuation zone also includes Elk Creek Road, addresses 8800 and above; Ulrich Road, adresses 829 and above; the 4000 block of Lewis Road; and all addresses on Sugar Pine Road, Dodes Creek Road and Shelly Lane. Taylor Creek fire The Taylor Creek fire, burning west of Grants Pass and Merlin, had grown to 39,804 acres Monday and was 38 percent contained, according to the incident management team assigned to the blaze. It has been responsible for much of the smoke in the Rogue Valley over the past two days. Assisted by Oregon National Guard troops, fire crews mopped up and strengthened contained areas. The containment area extends from the north side of the fire near Taylor Creek, around the entire east side, and to the southern end past Limpy Creek to the Onion Mountain Road. Multiple residents on stretches of Galice Creek road and Galice Road remain under level 3 — “go now” — evacuation notices. Klondike fire The Klondike fire, burning in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness northwest of Selma, surpassed the 30,000-acre mark Monday, growing to 30,873 acres in size. It was listed at 5 percent contained. A level 3 evacuation remains in effect for Oak Flat at the end of Illinois River Road in Josephine County. Illinois River Road residents between milepost 2.5 to Oak Flat are under a level 2 “get set” evacuation advisory. Homes west of Highway 199 between the intersection of the highway and Lakeshore Drive north to Waters Creek Road are under a level 1 “be ready” advisory. Residents living on Hogue Drive, Norman Road, Illionis River Road, Squaw Mountain Road, Clear Creek Drive, Hidden Creek Road, Circle West Drive, Onion Mountain Road, Butcherknife Road, Slate Creek Road. Garner Complex The 8,886-acre Garner Complex was 82 percent contained Monday, with firefighters “working diligently toward handing the management of the fire back local Oregon Department of Forestry fire district,” according to a news release. “Crews using palm-held infrared scanners to detect pockets of heat near the containment lines are finding fewer hot spots as mop up winds down,” the release said. Hendrix fire Crews reached 70 percent containment on the Hendrix fire, which has burned 1,082 acres and nine miles southwest of Ashland. Natchez fire The Natchez fire, burning 15 miles southeast of Cave Junction, grew to 10,302 acres Monday. It is considered 35 percent contained. Reach web editor Ryan Pfeil at [email protected] or at 541-776-4468.