@ slope game: I see where you are coming from and it seems like it's a gray area, but I am going to say "no" based on the fact that the description of the fire lash ability says, "A pyro can take Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization (if she otherwise meets the prerequisites) in conjunction with the fire lash, as well as any feats that apply to the use of a standard whip."
So to me, it seems like if they were going to allow ranged feats, they would have specified that here. Instead, they call out that, for feat purposes, it should be treated as a standard whip, which is a melee weapon.
