This study examines the temporal dynamics interplay between incident management communications and community responses during two significant wildfire events in Southwest Oregon: the 2017 Chetco Bar Fire and the 2018 Klondike Fires. Leveraging novel machine learning techniques and qualitative methods, we analyzed social media data to capture local sentiments and reactions. The Chetco Bar Fire was characterized by rapid escalation and inadequate initial public engagement, leading to intense community criticism and heightened stress and anxiety reflected in social media discourse. In contrast, the Klondike Fires saw improved interagency communication strategies and proactive public engagement, resulting in more positive public sentiment and lower levels of criticism. Our findings highlight the importance of timely and transparent communication in managing community expectations and anxiety levels during crises. It underscores the value of developing public engagement strategies that span all levels of response from community to federal teams and that span multiple forms of engagement both on the ground and online to enhance public trust and community resilience.