In 3D computer graphics most objects consist of an infinitely thin skin (visualized by the Surface Shader) and a hollow interior. If you want to create clouds, smoke or fire, you have to FILL the geometry with a material. This, in the current version of Maya (2018) is not trivial; you need to know what to do. Once you know this, you get amazing results. Let me guide you!
A few months later I published this tutorial about basically the same theme: • Maya: Fluffy Volume
Music: "Computer Animation" and "Dubius 170" by Maximilian Schönherr. GEMA