WATKINS, Minn. - Two barns were destroyed but a central Minnesota farm couple was fortunate to have all their livestock survive a devastating fire Sunday afternoon, thanks to a quick- thinking passerby.
It happened just before 5 p.m. at the John and Louise Schutz farm on Country Road 21 in Watkins. The passerby noticed smoke coming from one of the cattle barns and ran to the residence, only to find no one was home.
That passerby then ran to the barn and released all livestock from inside. All the cows escaped safely.
By the time fire crews arrived from Watkins, Kimball, Cold Spring and Eden Valley, the two barn structures were fully engulfed and could not be saved.
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