ok i just switched up a few faces here and there, and now it works fine. strange.....
now, the next problem:
oxygen obviously hates me, because even when i just copy my new working geometry lod into the fire geometry model, it won't work!! wtf!? wait, fire geometry doesnt need mass does it? doubt it, but anyway. do i need to have hitpoints as well for this sucker to work. whats the deal? my model is a building, and all i need is for the bullets to hit it. rockets and other stuff would be nice, but i'm guessing that goes along with it.