diff --git a/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.F90 b/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.F90
index 76599d475..7623f23da 100644
--- a/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.F90
+++ b/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.F90
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ subroutine GFS_surface_composites_post_run (
         fm10_wat, fm10_lnd, fm10_ice, fh2_wat, fh2_lnd, fh2_ice, tsurf_wat, tsurf_lnd, tsurf_ice, cmm_wat, cmm_lnd, cmm_ice,    &
         chh_wat, chh_lnd, chh_ice, gflx_wat, gflx_lnd, gflx_ice, ep1d_wat, ep1d_lnd, ep1d_ice, weasd_lnd, weasd_ice,            &
         snowd_lnd, snowd_ice, tprcp_wat, tprcp_lnd, tprcp_ice, evap_wat, evap_lnd, evap_ice, hflx_wat, hflx_lnd,                &
-        hflx_ice, hflx_fire, evap_fire, qss_wat, qss_lnd, qss_ice, tsfc_wat, zorlo, zorll, zorli, garea
+        hflx_ice, qss_wat, qss_lnd, qss_ice, tsfc_wat, zorlo, zorll, zorli, garea
 
+      real(kind=kind_phys), dimension(:),   intent(in), optional :: hflx_fire, evap_fire
       real(kind=kind_phys), dimension(:),   intent(inout) :: zorl, cd, cdq, rb, stress, ffmm, ffhh, uustar, fm10,               &
         fh2, cmm, chh, gflx, ep1d, weasd, snowd, tprcp, evap, hflx, qss, tsfc, tsfco, tsfcl, tisfc
 
diff --git a/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.meta b/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.meta
index e4a364e04..e70eaaa4e 100644
--- a/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.meta
+++ b/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/GFS_surface_composites_post.meta
@@ -824,6 +824,7 @@
   type = real
   kind = kind_phys
   intent = in
+  optional = True
 [evap_fire]
   standard_name = surface_upward_specific_humidity_flux_of_fire
   long_name = kinematic surface upward latent heat flux of fire
@@ -832,6 +833,7 @@
   type = real
   kind = kind_phys
   intent = in
+  optional = True
 [cpl_fire]
   standard_name = do_fire_coupling
   long_name = flag controlling fire_behavior collection (default off)
diff --git a/physics/smoke_dust/rrfs_smoke_wrapper.meta b/physics/smoke_dust/rrfs_smoke_wrapper.meta
index 0929c8be3..739a43d70 100755
--- a/physics/smoke_dust/rrfs_smoke_wrapper.meta
+++ b/physics/smoke_dust/rrfs_smoke_wrapper.meta
@@ -968,6 +968,7 @@
   type = real
   kind = kind_phys
   intent = in
+  optional = True
 [cpl_fire]
   standard_name = do_fire_coupling
   long_name = flag controlling fire_behavior collection (default off)