Electrooptical scattering was used to detect aggregated particle chains in the smoke from the Kuwait oil fires. Nonsphericity was detected by the change in light scattering brought about by induced alignment of particles when subjected to a pulsed, bipolar electric field. Measured parameters included the steady state enhancement of light scattering for complete orientation of the particles, and the rotational diffusion constant, calculated from the time required for the particles to relax to a random orientation after the electric field was removed. Chain aggregates of soot formed within seconds of combustion for those fires producing black smoke. These aggregates agglomerated to some extent in the smoke near the fires, but then remained relatively unchanged for several hours of travel downwind. Very little nonsphericity was detected for particles in the plumes of white smoke, which consisted primarily of salt brine products emitted along with the oil. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1992