We had fires, usually late in the Summer and early in the Fall. These fires weren't like what they have now, and it is not due to climate change or global warming.
Then there were 'lookouts' spaced around the District on mountain tops. They would spot the 'smokes' early and even though we had to pack into the fire (there were not many roads) we got there early enough so the fires didn't have time to become large.
Some bean counter decided that it was too costly to have 'lookouts'. Heliocopters could do the same thing. Since then fires have been larger and more damaging.