Abstract: A building protection system includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of thermal deactivation units (burn boxes) deployed at key locations in the facility. When such a sensor detects a potential threat, a corresponding burn box is activated to mitigate the threat. The burn box can be disposed inside an HVAC system, or inside a room or area in which the sensor is deployed. When the burn box is deployed in an HVAC duct, the HVAC system is manipulated to direct air from the area in which the sensor detects the threat into the burn box. When the burn box is deployed in a room, the HVAC system is manipulated to prevent air from that room from spreading through the facility, while the burn box mitigates the threat.