On Sunday, November 9, 2025, at approximately 10:44 a.m., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a building fire at 43868 County Road 3 in Holding Township. The property owner, Gerard Pintok, 64, of Holdingford called to report his 40×110 foot equipment shed was on fire. Shortly before the fire started, he went inside the shed to start a fire in the woodstove inside. He left the door of the stove slightly ajar to help feed it oxygen while he went to a different area of his property to tend to his cattle. A short time later, he looked and saw fire and smoke billowing from the shed which was beyond the point of being able to extinguish himself. Several fire departments responded to fight the fire. It was eventually extinguished, but it was determined the shed and all contents inside were a total loss. Holdingford Fire Department responded to the fire and requested assistance from the Bowlus Fire Department. Also assisting were the Minnesota DNR and Mayo Ambulance.
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