Public Discourse Surrounding the 2025 California Wildfires: A Sentiment and Topic Analysis of High-Engagement YouTube Comments

This study explores public discourse surrounding the January 2025 California wildfires by analyzing high-engagement YouTube comments. Leveraging sentiment analysis, misinformation detection, and topic modeling, this research identifies dominant emotional tones, thematic patterns, and the prevalence of misinformation in discussions. The results show a predominantly neutral to positive sentiment, with notable emotional intensity in misinformation-related comments, which were rare but impactful. The thematic analysis highlights concerns about governance, environmental issues, and conspiracy theories, including water mismanagement and diversity-related critiques. These findings provide insights for crisis communication, policymaking, and misinformation management during disasters, emphasizing the importance of aligning strategies with public concerns.