Things like the forest fire, the fireballs thrown at Katniss, and the mutated animals at the end all show the power the Gamemakers have over the reality of the arena. Even though the Games take place in a simulated and controlled environment, all the damage and deaths they cause are real. Additionally, members of the public from the wealthy Capitol can become Sponsors, which allows them to send supplies to their chosen Tributes, blurring the lines between the Games and reality by allowing them to participate in the plot of events. But of course these flashy displays are not the only kind of power that people strive for