The paper provides main methodological principles of comprehensive assessment of fire damage are formulated. The developed methodological principles allow us to filter out the least important parameters and focus on the factors that largely determine the completeness of the comprehensive assessment of fire damage. The paper analyzes the main existing methods for assessing damage from fires and emergencies. Based on the conducted research, the distinctive features of the presented methods and their main disadvantages are identified. Based on statistical data on fire damage in the Sverdlovsk region, the most complete classification of complex fire damage has been compiled, which takes into account the assessment of indirect economic, socio-economic and environmental-economic damage from fires. In the course of the research, the author conducted a number of expert interviews with experts in the field of fire damage assessment: appraisers, insurance company experts, and fire protection officers.