Area fire crews on Friday responded to a grass fire in the area of 170th Avenue and Victoria Road, west of Hays.

As of approximately 4 p.m., a fire official on the scene said the fire was contained, although firefighters continued to douse hot spots.

Ellis County Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus said the 200-acre fire was started after an oil field “pumper put a fuse into an oil well.”

“There was a short somewhere in the line,” he said, and sparks combined with “wind gusts as high as 26 miles per hour” and dry conditions contributed to the fire.

Klaus said the fire was contained quickly with the help of five fire companies called to the scene.

Klaus said firefighters will remain on the scene until this late evening to ensure the fire does not start up again.