The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how “information-based” societies rely on electricity. As such, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides substantial incentives for battery energy storage systems (BESS). Essential to each BESS is fire protection, as Li-ion battery fires can be catastrophic and negatively affect public perception and adoption of this critical infrastructure. We propose technologies and techniques that can mitigate or avoid battery thermal runaway if threats are detected early. Effective techniques can be realized by design, monitoring, and active control using early warning smart sensors and appropriate suppression technologies at the right stage of the threat — before propagation.