It’s easy to keep the party going  even after the sun sets with an outdoor fire pit. But take extra care in tending to the fire because indoor smoke detectors and ADT heat sensors won’t alert you to a fire outdoors. The interior of your home has the added protection of a home alarm system – keep the exterior of your home safe with these fire pit safety tips:

• Stake out a good spot: Place the pit on a level surface made of concrete, brick or stone that is at least 10 feet away from your house and other structures.

• Use proper fuel: Burn dry wood that was cut at least six months ago.

• Ignite safely: Don’t use gas, kerosene or lighter fluid to start the fire.

• Douse out: Keep a fire extinguisher (dry chemical extinguisher), or a bucket of water or sand to douse the fire in case of an emergency or when you’re ready to head inside.

Many people are opting to work out of their home to save on commuting costs or spend more time with their families. While you may feel safer at home than in an office building, it’s important to remember that home offices and their expensive equipment can attract potential burglars.

Be sure to follow these simple safety tips below to help keep you and your home office safe.

• A few extra measures: In addition to a home alarm system and working locks on all outdoor windows and doors, install window treatments that obscure your office equipment from sight. But for a little extra assurance, install a dead bolt on your home office door to deter potential burglars from taking equipment like computers, printers and paper shredders.

• Safe records: Label and make a list of your equipment, along with photos and keep it in a safe place like a safe or bank deposit box so you’ll know what exactly you had in the case of damaged or stolen equipment. Also notify your insurance company that you’re working from home.

• Entryway check: Identify anyone making a delivery to your home before you open the door to ensure your home security. Never let the person enter your home office.

• Initial meetings: Always meet clients or other people you’re meeting for the first time in public. Also, let someone else know whom you’re meeting and where to ensure that someone will be on alert in case something happens to you.

The changing weather presents many challenges for homeowners. From the potential doom and gloom of hurricane season to the dangers that come along with heavy snowfall, people need to be aware of home security issues that could turn nasty quickly. Mother Nature can turn into a vicious killer in mere moments, so take note of the following situations and the accompanying ways to combat potential hazards.

Staying Safe During Hurricane Season: Residents of the Gulf Coast are well aware of the hazards associated with the height of hurricane season, but many don’t have an effective plan in place in case of the worst. Residents of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas need to have a firm strategy for both maintaining home security, and evacuating, should it come to that. Hurricane Katrina exposed the weakness of local, state, and federal government; don’t expect them to come to your rescue if another storm strikes. An ADT home alarm system is a great way to secure your home, especially if your evacuation takes you out of state. With five interconnected command centers, you know that no matter where the weather strikes, your service won’t go down.

The Many Dangers of Snow: The white fluffy stuff is the stuff of legend, but it can wreak havoc in different ways. Major snowstorms can dump feet of snow on your roof, and older houses may not have the structural integrity to hold up all that extra weight. If you’re taking a respite from the cold and heading south on vacation, make sure to arrange for someone to shovel-there’s nothing like an unplowed driveway to signal burglars that a homeowner isn’t home. While you’re at it, make sure to set your ADT home security system as you trudge out.

Be Aware of Tornadoes: In the Midwest, the fall brings danger of a different sort. Unpredictable weather can result in powerful tornadoes. Make sure everyone in your family knows where to head in case of a sudden twister strike.

Respect the power of Mother Nature, and take precautions to mitigate the dangers. By following proper procedures, you can lower the risk of a weather related catastrophe.