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Is there any concern about having to evacuate if Medford’s air quality gets too hazardous? — Savanna V., from Facebook There’s plenty of concern among health officials about the bad air that hangs over our valley, Savanna. The elderly and others with health issues should stay indoors as much as possible when the air becomes unhealthy. Face masks with an N-95 rating and furnace air filters that can remove tiny particles are recommended. Health officials suggested that pregnant women and small children leave the valley when we had very unhealthy air Monday, but that was only a recommendation. By the way, the Medford area had the unfortunate distinction of having the worst air quality in the U.S. Monday. Melissa Cano, spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Forestry, said it’s not her agency’s call to declare an evacuation for air quality. “That’s not our decision,” Cano said. Fire agencies can call for an evacuation if there is danger of a fire spreading to homes. On Monday, air quality in Shady Cove was listed as hazardous but no evacuation was declared. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.