Abstract Previous investigations for developing fire spread models in wildland forest fuels have not adequately assessed the heat-sink characteristics of the different fuels. This research uses differential scanning calorimetry to determine the total heat required to change the temperature of a sample of forest fuel from 25° to 500°C. The incremental heat input is recorded for 10°C increments. Thermogravimetric analysis data are given for equivalent samples. Significant differences are noted between major fuels in the total heat required at 500°C. Generally, the heat required for pyrolysis of these fuels is as important as that for evaporating moisture from the fuel. Forest Sci. 28:839-851.