By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

A fire at the Ellis County landfill was responsible for the cloud of smoke that hung around Hays on Tuesday evening.

City of Hays fire crews received reported of smoke in the northwest edge of Hays, but they determined it was due to a fire burning at the landfill.

Ellis County Landfill Manager Richard Grizzle said they had been burning a pile of trees when either the wind kicked up the fire or someone piled more trees on a pile of smoldering trees, catching those trees on fire.

Grizzle said when landfill workers noticed the smoke, they attempted to put out the fire, but it was too late.

The smell of smoke hung over the area for a few hours Tuesday, and a smoky haze could be seen around Walmart north of Interstate 70.