Fire claims rural Watkins barn, passerby saves animals

WATKINS -- A passerby released the livestock from a burning cattle barn and saved the animals Sunday afternoon at a rural Watkins farm.

According to a news release from Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner, deputies and firefighters from Watkins, Kimball, Cold Spring and Eden Valley responded to a fire around 4:45 p.m. Sunday at the John and Louise Schutz farm, 16356 County Road 21.

The passerby noticed smoke coming from one of the cattle barns and that there was no one home at the residence. The person then released the animals from the barn. None were injured.

Two farm buildings were fully engulfed and the fire crews were unable to save the buildings.