Wildfires have increased in number and severity in recent years, while the number of people living in communities at risk of fire has also dramatically increased. A result of this is that more people are being exposed to smoke from both wildfires and prescribed fires that are designed to reduce wildfire risk. The need to understand public acceptance of smoke has become increasingly clear, yet there has been little research on this topic in the past. This study examined citizens' perceptions of smoke management before and after exposure to an active wildfire and smoke season. After reviewing events in four previously surveyed sites for fire and smoke impacts (see JFSP project number 10-1-03-7), a follow-up questionnaire was sent to communities around the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California. The follow-up survey was administered to the same individuals who completed a survey the year prior, producing longitudinal data and allowing us to analyze how their opinions changed after an active wildfire and smoke season. Need for this type of longitudinal information has been expressed by managers and scientists alike. In addition to general perceptions of smoke, opinions of the forest and air management agencies were also examined. Changes in perceptions were measured using paired t-tests. These tests revealed no changes in the public's acceptance of smoke, regardless of the type of fire it was coming from. The majority of citizens' risk perceptions associated with smoke impacts also remained unchanged with the exception of a few impacts related to recreation and outdoor activities which increased significantly after the fire and smoke season. Other changes between years included shifts in the usefulness of different communication sources, an increase in the knowledge deficit regarding smoke, and decreases in the confidence for federal and state agencies to complete specific tasks.