The article discusses the impact of fires and related emergencies on the competitiveness of the territories. Assessment of damage from fires, including long-term consequences, is undoubtedly very important in determining the competitiveness of territories. Under-researched in this area are the issues of estimating the indirect economic, social and environmental damage, which leads to a significant underestimation of the real losses from fires. Comprehensive assessment of damage from fires, taking into account all types of damages will adequately assess the level of competitiveness of urban and rural areas. In the article the analysis of existing methods of estimation of damage from fire, and provides statistical data on fires in the Sverdlovsk region and Yekaterinburg.