Emergency responders are telling Warren County Residents to stay home this weekend as an ice storm approaches.The storm of freezing rain is expected to hit Friday morning and drop 1/4-3/4 inch of ice, according to the National Weather Service. Icy conditions are expected to persist until Sunday afternoon.Warrenton Fire Chief Mike Owenby said area residents need to stay home if they don't have to travel.Owenby also warned residents to expect power outages and be prepared for up to several days without electricity."A half inch of ice means power lines down," Owenby said. "That much ice adds an unreal amount of weight, the power lines can't handle it."He advised keeping cellphones charged, having extra blankets and stocking food that doesn't need to be cooked.Owenby also warned residents to be cautious with alternative heat and power sources. Portable heaters should be kept away from combustible items. Fuel-burning generators should be kept outside, away from home ventilation, because they produce poisonous carbon monoxide gas. The same is true of any heat source that burns fuel, Owenby said.Firefighters are preparing ahead of time for the coming storm. Owenby said he will have extra staff on hand, and has made arrangements to fuel the trucks if gas stations are shut down. But if road conditions deteriorate, he said the department could have slower response time, especially to rural areas."We'll do everything we can to get to every call, but it depends on what's happening," Owenby said. "We always plan for the worst and try to be prepared."Wright City Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said his department will switch to emergency operations, which means keeping large trucks at the station unless they are required."We're trying to keep bigger apparatus off the road as much as possible," MacKnight said. "We've bulked up on salt, tire chains, food for the fire house and we have a generator. Like everybody else, we're preparing for the worst and hoping for the best."For those who absolutely must travel, the weather service advises keeping a storm kit in their vehicles: a flashlight, cellphone, food and water, and extra blankets. Exercise extreme caution while driving.Ice stormarollins@warrencountyrecord.com