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Ratmann
Then yeah, most studios would use a volume file format to get data across the pipeline, Hence Field3D was created at SPI and OpenVDB started off at DD and then became what we know as OpenVDB at Dreamworks

I have seen both of them; but what would be the general workflow, from downloading field3d's/openvdb's source, to having a PyroFX in Maya?
PS: I don't want to use FumeFX.

Houdini Engine is a possibility, but I'd like to know what did animation/movie studios use *before* Houdini Engine became available in 2013.
There are plenty of animations featuring fire and smoke made before HEngine. How'd the pro studios do it?

I've read many times that Houdini is best at providing FX for the existing animation/modeling.

But I've run into a problem: I know how to export models from Houdini to Maya et al., but how do I export Fire or Smoke particles?

Or, if this is not possible: how would Pixar or other animation studio *unify* assets created with Maya (or others) with PyroFX from Houdini, in order to have a project ready for rendering?