This study proposes a heat release rate (HRR) estimation method for a carrier loaded with fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) trapped in a tunnel fire. The carrier is divided into several parts, and the HRR is estimated by adding the HRRs of all system parts (carrier and FCVs). The HRR of one FCV was compared with that of a gasoline vehicle. The thermal fume behavior in longitudinally inclined tunnel fires was also investigated. Even a modest inclination hastened the thermal fume propagation of the FCV fires. Of relevance to the prevention of tunnel fire disasters, the thermal fume behavior differed between FCV and gasoline fires. For safety assessment of tunnel fires, the thermal fume behaviors of an FCV fire and gasoline vehicle fire in a tunnel were investigated by the proposed method. In the case of no longitudinal inclination, the thermal fume of the FCV fire arrived earlier than that of the gasoline vehicle fire (by 1 min at x = 200 m and over 4 min at x = 250 m) because of the emitted hydrogen gas. At 2% longitudinal inclination, the thermal fume of the FCV fire propagated to the downstream side 4 min before that of the gasoline vehicle fire. At 4% longitudinal inclination, the thermal fume propagated 50 m downstream of the initial fire after 10 min. Therefore, after the hydrogen emission, the thermal fume of the FCV fire traveled faster than that of the gasoline vehicle fire. The proposed HRR estimation method can contribute to the risk analysis of various types of tunnel fires. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.