Introduction. The article provides an overview of the existing approaches to solving the problem of combustion of substances and materials, for their adequacy in determining their fire hazard of products and objects. The relevance of the work is due to the need to move from latent forms in determining the fire hazard of materials and products made from them (degrees of fire resistance, flammability groups, groups of the effectiveness of fire retardant coatings, etc.) to analytical forms describing the processes in the combustion theory. Problem statement. The task of the research is to determine the relationship between the theory of combustion of substances and materials and to assess their fire hazard in natural and man-made systems. Theoretical part. The system analysis of solutions to the combustion theory problems is performed. Its results became the basis of probabilistic-physical and entropy approaches, as well as proposals for changing standards designed to provide protection from fires. Conclusions. The results of the study showed the need to revise empirical approaches in assessing the fire hazard of materials and products made from them, which includes using thermoanalytic and acoustic methods and means.