I exported to file, then turned on the flag in my import_pyrofields node. What I expect to find is that it's loading the files from disk, but it's resimulating the fluid when I click on the timeline. I've attached a simple example file.

1) First Export to file to create the files
2) Close file
3) Open file, check “load from disk” in your /import_pyro_build/import_pyrofields node
4) Try clicking on timeline.

Shouldn't it be loading the file from disk? Am I missing something?

maybe it's corny, but try to

1. disable dynamics simulation
2. make sure that you set the display flag on import_pyrofields node
3. turn on “load from disk”

I download your scene, open, cashe fluid sim, load from disk… No problem.

Yeah, my problem is that I'm using that to advect particles, so don't really want to disable simulation

Sorry I haven't looked at your setup; but are you writing out .sim files? If so, be sure to set Timeless on the DOPnet.