It's low-level (const 2) in Conceptual Balance, but it's range: strength. That limits it's usefulness quite badly, because the commanders won't get any shots off before the elephants are close enough to trample them too, if you're unlucky. Also, it's more expensive to mass Fire Bolas than elephants.
Besides that, you also need fire income, and if you get that you can just cast Bonds with your fire mages.