One of the biggest challenges facing firefighters across Alaska in the 2019 fire season was smoke. The thick smoke that blanketed much of Alaska made firefighting efforts difficult. Much of firefighting is conducted from the air. Tankers and helicopters drop water and retardant on fires. Fire crews use aircraft to map the blazes, and supplies are dropped in from the air. New technology to the fire service has made delivering supplies in smoky conditions easier. The paracargo team is in charge of delivering all supplies to remote fires with parachutes, they deliver everything from food, water and hoses to larger items such as boats and motors. During the off season and when the fire activity is low, they can deliver things for other agencies such as lumber and even project kits for the Iditarod Trail.