SMITHVILLE — About 100 to 150 firefighters from 25 different departments were on hand Tuesday afternoon as they battled a 3- to 5-square-mile brush fire in the vicinity of county routes 75 and 76 in the town of Adams.

“This is definitely the largest fire we’ve had in years,” said Joseph D. Plummer, Jefferson County director of fire and emergency management.

The fire, which started around 1:30 p.m., spread quickly among the grassy roadside area, helped by winds of about 15 miles per hour.

“It literally ran like wildfire,” Mr. Plummer said.

Crews were able to contain the blaze before it became a threat to any nearby homes or businesses.

While no cause had been officially determined, Mr. Plummer said Tuesday that dry weather may have been a factor.

By 4:30 p.m., crews were able to put out nearly all of the fire, but Mr. Plummer said firefighters would remain on the scene for at least four more hours to put out small hot spots and to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.

In addition to the fire crews, five bulldozers were on hand to clear paths for crews and to build a border area to prevent the fire’s spread.

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