How much heat energy, in BTUs, does each pound of ordinary combustibles release?

Each pound of ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, and fabric, typically releases between 7,000 and 10,000 BTUs when burned. This range is based on the average energy content of these materials, falling within the thermal energy properties defined in the Fire Officers Handbook of Tactics and other fire safety literature. Understanding this energy release is crucial for firefighters as it helps them assess fire behavior and manage operations effectively.

The knowledge of heat release is vital in various situations, especially when predicting fire spread and determining adequate fire suppression strategies. In contrast, the values representing other ranges either understate or overstate the energy content of common combustibles, leading to less accurate calculations in real-world firefighting scenarios.