[supertackyman]

so are we talking about sort of invisible fire? or an invisible entity with visible fire all around?

now please bear in mind that im an amatuer, but what about using the model as a texture map to place over some flaming background and then selecting the inverse of the model and cutting away the remaining fire. lastly use the smudge tool to make the flames lick off the edges?
just a thought.
perhaps combine this with the preadator tutorial.

alas, there are gurus here more knoledgeable than I