Canadian forest fires, belated thoughts

Reading some essays by E.B. White, most famous for his children's books.  In June of 1940 he commented on the smoke from the Canadian forest fires.  Discussion with the neighbors ensued about the extent of the fires.  One neighbor opined that "the whole of Canada is on fire". 

So apparently the recent spate of fires is neither recent nor a spate.  And perhaps not caused by global warming.