 Forest fires seasonally clear the park of dead vegetation , making way for new growth . These fires are detrimental to the ecology of the park , and also damage the income generated by tourism . The Summer of Fire saw more resources dedicated to the subject of wildfire than ever before or since in the United States . The most recent fire , the Rim Fire , which destroyed nearly $ 2 billion in assets and revenue , closed off much of the park to tourists . This rim fire was the third largest on record , and burned nearly 500 acres of wild habitat . 
