Black Hills, S.D. (KELO) -- Wildfire crews spent the majority of fall preparing burn piles throughout the Black Hills to be ready for the winter months. They use this time to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. This process helps thin out areas to prevent fires from getting out of control. "So what we're doing, we're out here burning these hand piles that we've created. So we go through, we thin it, and what we're trying to create is a fire break. Whether it be along a roadway or else a lot of times we do it next to private sections of land," Engine Captain/Burn Boss Stephen Engebretson said. The winter time helps, with all of the snow on the ground creating additional moisture for these burns to stay where they are. This work out here today on Nemo Road covers over 30 acres with close to 200 hand piles getting burned to help out with this mitigation in preparation for fire season in the coming months this summer. Court: Beaudion Jr. competent for trial This process continues little by little throughout the Black Hills each year. "So that if we were to get a fire in the forest, we're able to catch it, you know, easier, if I can say that. Easier when it's getting closer to the private lands, we're able to kind of put in containment lines having less fuel on the ground, less fuel in those areas," Engebretson said. The Northern Hills Ranger District will continue to work the area and will be burning piles across Spearfish Canyon next.