This work introduces remote sensing of biomass burning emissions using high-resolution Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy over open paths in smoke plumes from biomass fires. There are several advantages to this type of smoke composition measurement, which address some of the disadvantages of previous measurements: 1) Simultaneous measurements of a wide range of gas phase species in the smoke can be made with a single technique, 2) Pseudo-continuous measurements may be made before. during, and after a fire, 3) The technique is a remote sensing technique; no sampling is required, so there are no uncertainties due to loss or production of species in sample transfer lines or containers, and 4) Measurements are integrated over a long path through the smoke plume and therefore are not subject to small-scale local variations as may be the case with in situ and grab-sampling methods. This technique provides an overview of the combustion products from burning not available from any other single technique used to date and can yield much valuable information on the gaseous emission products from biomass burning and the factors which control the balance of those emissions.