Fire salamanders are just like regular salamanders except that they can ignite when threatened. Even when they're ablaze, their skin is still cold. They can be found in damp place or in wood piles. They can smell of sulphur and can ooze a poison so horrible that it burns whatever it touches. Alchemists look for these critters because they are important for turning lead into gold. They are also collected for their skins which is used in making flame retardant gloves. They can be caught with tongs and kept in an iron box.
* photo are courtesy of Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide