A 57 year-old Hays man was injured in an oil field explosion Wednesday afternoon in Ellis County.

According to the Ellis County Undersheriff Bruce Hertel emergency crews received the report of an explosion and fire at a crude oil storage tank northwest of Catherine at approximately 2:14 p.m. Wednesday.

Hertel said the man, an employee of American Tank Service of Hays, was standing on top of the tank when the explosion occurred and the man was engulfed in flames.

Fire and Sheriff personnel determined that while crews were cleaning the inside of the tank a hose from a tank truck may have come in contact with a heating element inside the tank causing the explosion.

The victim was flown from the scene to a hospital in Wichita.