Abstract
   This dissertation integrates three core studies—on public perceptions in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas, burn severity predictions, and uncertainty visualization—to address the complexities of wildfire management in California. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, exacerbated by climate change, urban expansion into WUI areas, and accumulative fuel loads, underscore the need for comprehensive wildfire risk management strategies that include community engagement and advanced predictive and communicative tools. The research focuses on understanding community attitudes towards wildfire management practices, employing the Composite Burn Index (CBI) for detailed burn severity assessments, and developing visualization techniques to effectively communicate the uncertain aspects of wildfire risks. These elements are crucial for enhancing public comprehension, shaping policy, and promoting proactive community resilience measures against the growing threat of wildfires. This cohesive approach not only aims to mitigate the economic and social impacts of wildfires but also enhances the overall preparedness and response strategies through empirical modeling and improved risk communication.

Biography
   Samrajya Thapa currently is a PhD Candidate in the Environmental Systems group. He received his Bachelors of Science in Forestry from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and received Masters of Science in Forestry from Mississippi State University. He then joined Professor LeRoy Westerling's lab in 2018 to study intricate relationships between public perceptions of wildfire risks, the estimation of burn severity, and the strategies for effective risk communication.