A furnace system connected to a burner (640) including a furnace (860) for burning a fuel and air ejected from the burner (640) into the furnace to produce a flame (650) therein, and a combustion condition determining device (660, 670, 680, 690, 710,720,730) for determining the conditions of combustion of the fuel in a zone of the flame extending along different strata thereof by collecting light in the flame at one point in the flame by moving such point.
Signals outputted by the combustion condition determining device are utilized for monitoring or controlling the flame and controlling exhaust emission control devices (780, 790, 810, 820) for controlling exhaust emissions produced by the combustion of the fuel. Control of the conditions of combustion of the flame can be effected quickly with a high degree of precision by monitoring the flame.