The pattern on that first fire het reminds me a lot of a yellowbelly ...

I can't comment on the caramel influence as I don't have/haven't made any hets yet, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. Not sure if a busy pattern would necessarily be it, though, since caramel is really just a pigment and not a pattern mutation. I know my caramel is very reduced/banded, and it looks like yours is too (lovely girl BTW!).

Those are some pretty, funky fires, though. Good luck with the project -- caramel fire sounds like an awesome snake!