Abstract: The scientific classification of disasters and accidents serves as an important means for countries worldwide to enhance emergency preparedness, improve early warning capabilities, and increase response efficiency. China implements an emergency management system characterized by "comprehensive coordination, categorized management, tiered responsibility, and locally-led management." This paper systematically examines the characteristics of classification systems for natural disasters and fires at different governance stages both domestically and internationally. The study reveals that during the pre-disaster assessment and prediction phase as well as the emergency response phase, classification systems for natural disasters encompass disaster grades, warning classifications, and response classifications, while fire classification systems comprise two aspects: fire alarm classifications and dispatch classifications. Regarding natural disasters, disaster grades as intensity standards have achieved international standardization, yet specific classification criteria vary among different disaster types. Warning classifications consistently reflect the urgency of societal risk-avoidance actions, while response classifications align with the number of administrative hierarchical levels in each country. Concerning fires, fire alarm and dispatch classifications comprehensively consider both the inherent characteristics of disasters and their potential impact consequences. The five-level fire alarm standard is universally adopted internationally, serving as a crucial quantitative basis for resource allocation in emergency response operations.

Key words: emergency management, disaster classification, response classification, force dispatch