The cold weather has meant an increase in calls for South King Fire and Rescue.

The department has added additional staff, up from the normal minimum of 27, to deal with the extra calls.

The extra staff is being used to put the aid cars in service.

“The majority of the calls have been people falling on ice and snow,” spokeswoman Kendra Kay said. “Take extra caution, wear sturdy shoes and if possible just don’t go outside. Parking lots and walkways are still really slippery.”

The fire department has also gotten a lot of calls about frozen pipes bursting.

“It’s really important to keep the water dripping or keep them insulated,” Kay said.

Another thing to remember while the cold winter weather continues is where you put the space heater. Be sure to keep it clear of fabrics and other things that burn, and don’t let the heater run constantly.

If the power does go out during the next few days, Kay recommends taking a few precautions such as stocking up on batteries, extra food and blankets — and most importantly, making sure the smoke detector works.

“With the use of alternate methods of heating and candles, it’s really really important to make sure the smoke detector is working,” Kay said.

Chimneys are often used during a power outage and can, if not properly maintained, cause chimney fires.

Creosote and other debris can build up on the walls of chimneys and is highly combustible. To keep a chimney in proper condition, it needs to be cleaned once a year or every other year, Kay said. Also when cleaning the chimney, be careful about what is done with the remains. Those contents can smolder, so dousing them in water is a good idea before disposal.

Another cold winter weather danger is carbon monoxide poisoning.

“The best bet is a carbon monoxide detector,” Kay said. “No gas grills or generators inside; they all need to be outside.”