Re Lithium Batteries:
The sad thing about it is that it would be realtively easy to transport them much more safely:
They need to be empty/discharged. It is the electric charge which supports the thermal runįway. The electric energy allows to melt the separator between the layers causing a short circuit. The separator contains flammable (alcohol based) substances which cause the open fire. It is not the Lithium that burns, it's the alcohol. That's why a fire is best extinguished with water despite the Lithium which reacts heavily with water.
Unfortunately there is no regulation regarding the charge level of the batteries even being discussed at least to my knowledge.
For example for Lithium Polymer cells a pretty safe energy state would be below 3.5V. That should prevent the much dreaded thermal runaway.
Once they burn openly ignited by an external source, it's difficult to contain the energy. But that applies to Kerosene as well....