First responders in the Rio Grande Valley are prioritizing battery fire response.

The first responders participated in the first day of the South Texas All Hazards Conference in McAllen on Wednesday. 

The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service develops trainings and continuing education programs for first responders around the state.

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Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service Director David Coatney battery fires are a growing problem, and they want to make sure firefighters are trained.

“People are bringing them inside their houses or their apartments, they're going into thermal runaway, they heat up, and they catch on fire,” Coatney said. 

Coatney says Texas is looking to follow models set by the state of New York that keep these kids of fires from happening.

Day two of the conference continues Thursday.