Frequent　fire　disasters　have　caused　massive　impacts　to　the　environment,　human　beings,　and　the　economy.　MXene　has　recently　been　intensively　researched　as　potential　flame　retardants　to　provide　passive　fire　protection　for　other　materials　via　its　physical　barrier　and　catalyzing　carbonization　effects.　In　parallel,　MXene　has　also　demonstrated　a　great　promise　for　creating　early　fire　warning　sensors,　which　is　an　emerging　field　that　has　the　potential　to　provide　active　fire　response　through　its　thermoelectric　effect.　This　makes　it　possible　to　integrate　passive　fire　retardancy　and　active　fire　warning　into　one　MXene-based　fire　protection　system　on　demand.　However,　fulfilling　these　promises　needs　more　research.　Herein,　an　overview　of　passive　flame-retardant　materials　and　next-generation　smart　fire　warning　materials/sensors　based　on　MXene　and　its　derivatives　is　provided.　This　study　reviews　their　conceptual　design,　characterization,　modification　principles,　performances,　applications,　and　mechanisms.　A　discussion　of　the　challenges　that　need　to　be　solved　for　their　future　practical　applications　and　opportunities　is　also　presented.　©　2022　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.