MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A couple with a farm in rural Stearns County is thankful it still has cattle after a large fire destroyed two of their buildings over the weekend, according to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities received a call at about 4:44 p.m. Sunday on a report of a building fire on the 16000 block of County Road 21 in Watkins. When authorities arrived, they learned a passer-by in the area saw smoke coming from one of the cattle barns and nobody was at the residence.

Authorities said the passer-by then went over to the burning barn and released all the livestock inside. As a result, none of the animals was hurt in the fire. Authorities said both buildings were fully engulfed and fire crews were not able to save either.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire departments from Watkins, Kimball, Cold Spring and Eden Valley responded to the scene.