by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a maintenance-equipment shed on the property of Gilbert Stock of rural Sartell Oct. 13.
The fire broke out at about 12:30 p.m. on that day, and soon a roiling black plume of smoke rose into the sky and could be seen for miles. The fire departments of St. Joseph, Sartell, St. Stephen and Waite Park responded to the blaze, which destroyed several pieces of farm-and-yard machines inside the shed. No one was injured.
The shed was located not far from CR 133 near the Five Points intersection west of Sartell on the Stock family farm. St. Stephen firefighter Jim Schumer said at one point, during the fire, the gas tank of one of the pieces of equipment exploded inside the shed, increasing the fire and the damage.
The firefighters were at the scene for three hours. Gilbert Stock, who farmed on that property for many decades, lives in a house not far from the large shed that burned. His house was not damaged because firefighters restricted the blaze to the shed.
