Hi Jason,
I have no memory of anything that would cover your scene.
However, let me brainstorm a little, and based on your feedback to these, I’m happy to make some tests, but the variety of options might be to wide to just give you a recipe.
The stamping, Per boole, per displacement, per deformation, or just simply per PoseMorph.
The fire smoke etc. certainly a Thinking Particle solution with PyroClusters. (There is a great plug in available that does fire and smoke as well, you might have your own ideas about Plug ins, let me know, Josh did some research with it on his DailyFVX.
The complete change needs some texture work and blending of such.
Finally I believe highly that heat waves and other parts should be done in an compositing package.
This would be my first step, checking the options, to get this established. Let me know.
All the best
Sassi