| Qaianna |
So, you have a +1 flaming longsword. Yay!
You are now in a situation where you want to do nonlethal damage. You haven't had a chance to 'turn off' the flame yet; it's your turn in the round, you need to take that person alive, and if you spend the action to turn off the fire, you fail. You take your swing at -4 to hit, and do your d8 + other nonlethal damage.
How about that d6 of flame?
(Related: You now have a +1 flaming whip but none of the other feats that make whips lethal. You whip an enemy in full plate anyway. Do you still get your d6 of fire?)