Preventing fires and saving lives are the goals for Rio Grande Valley fire officials.

"We've seen way too many fatalities, and almost every one of these fatalities is preventable, and the techniques they will learn here will keep them alive,” Cameron County Fire Marshal Juan Martinez said.

Martinez joined his counterparts from across the Valley for a Monday fire safety expo held at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. 

The fire marshals said they want to teach people how to escape their homes in the event of a fire with house fire simulations, demonstrations on using fire extinguishers, and lessons on the importance of smoke detectors.

“This is not just for elementary children, we want to teach the entire family how to survive a house fire,” Martinez said. “Everybody needs to learn the same technique."

Martinez said they want to make sure everyone attending knows how to survive a fire, and what can cause them and how to stop them from spreading.

Watch the video above for the full story.