By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Lightning is believed to be the cause of an explosion and fire at an oil tank battery site in Ellis County early Wednesday morning.

According to Rural Fire Director Darin Myers, just after midnight, crews were dispatched to the 1800 block of Feedlot Road for a tank battery fire.

Myers said there was a significant amount of cloud lightning in the area north of Hays and they believe a lighting strike cause the gun barrel and two tank batteries to explode.

As a result of the explosion, oil leaked outside of the collection area around the barrels and funneled into an area about 150 yards down a hill.

Myers said county emergency officials met with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the property and lease owners Wednesday morning.

Crews were working to clean up the spill Wednesday morning.

Myers said this is the second time this tank battery has been struck by lightning.