We found out that there was a fire in Simpson Meadow and had been burning for some time. At night it would die down only to build up during the day. There were two Rangers camped in Simpson Meadow. When we saw them they were both sleeping. I'm sure they got up every so often to check on the fires progress. This area has been burned out several time so there really wasn't much fuel to feed it.

The park service doesn't put out fires unless there is a risk to peoples lives. Fire is part of nature and is needed to thin out the forest. Some trees even need fire to break open pine cones to allow the seeds to germinate. Without a fire the forest would soon be so overgrown that nothing would grow on the valley floor. There is a valley (Lost Valley) along the Merced River in Yosemite like that. They have signs at both ends of the valley prohibiting camping and fires within the valley.