Fire crews are continuing to make progress on blazes throughout the area.

The 975-acre Paradise Fire north of Shelter Cove is now 80 percent contained, said Cricket Baird of CAL FIRE.

The Humboldt Complex has burned some 1,300 acres.

No date on expected full containment was available.

The Mad Complex is expected to be controlled by July 21, said Julie Ranieri of Six Rivers National Forest.

“All the fires have all been 100 percent contained,” she said.

A Type Three team from Alaska is taking over, she said.

As of Monday morning, the Hells Half Complex, at 3,641 acres, was 54 percent contained, according to the Northern Rockies Type Two Incident Management Team.

Two active fires remain uncontained within the complex — the Half Fire, located approximately three miles southwest of Burnt Ranch, is 1,950 acres and 27 percent contained, and the Grouse Fire, located six miles southwest of Burnt Ranch is 1,691 acres and 80 percent contained.

“Dangerous terrain, heavy fuels, dense smoke, and limited access into many areas continue to hamper fire-suppression,” a news release stated.

An increase in fire activity was expected due to forecasted high temperatures.

The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert Monday for Somes Bar, Orleans, Weitchpec, Burnt Ranch, Junction City, Helena, Big Bar, Big Flat, Weaverville, Hayfork, Hyampom, Kettenpom and all areas in proximity to the wildfires.

“Smoke levels in these areas are very unhealthy,” the NCUAQMD stated. “Individuals in these areas should follow all health protective guidelines for smoke conditions, including limiting activity and staying indoors.”

For 24-hour air quality advisory information, phone 1-866-287-6329 and press 5, visit the NCUAQMD’s Web site at www.ncuaqmd.org, or visit www.airquality.org/smokeimpact for additional health information.

According to CAL FIRE, the number of peak fires in California is currently 1,781. More than 1,400 fires have been contained, and 330 are active.

Thunderstorm activity is predicted for the southern end of the state Wednesday, spreading north and west Thursday and Friday.

In response to increased levels of smoke and air pollution and the National Weather Service’s forecasts anticipating temperatures in the 90s and 100s this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced

Monday he is implementing the state’s Contingency Plan for Excessive Heat Emergencies.

The directive was sent to the Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Public Health and other state agencies to implement activities outlined in Phase II of the plan.

The governor urges all Californians living in or planning to visit areas for which extreme heat advisories and warnings are issued by the National Weather Services to prepare for the hot weather and use caution in their activities.

“I urge all Californians to take proper health precautions as the temperatures rise into the 90s and 100s across the state — drink plenty of water and check on your neighbors who may be more vulnerable,” Schwarzenegger stated in a news release.

Phase II activities include regularly scheduled conference calls with National Weather Service offices throughout the state, county emergency managers and representatives of key state agencies; increased outreach to the public and constituent groups by OES and other state agencies; the opening of cooling centers at state facilities; and contacts with licensed care facilities, hospitals and other facilities that serve seniors, persons with disabilities and other special needs populations.

A list of current cooling centers opened by local authorities along with heat illness prevention tips is available on the front page of the OES Web site at www.oes.ca.gov.