Fireworks caused blaze that gutted Templeton Feed & Grain, chief confirms

Templeton officials have confirmed that fireworks were the cause of the Templeton Feed & Grain fire that gutted the historic building late on the Fourth of July.

Although further details are still under investigation, Fire Chief Tom Peterson told The Tribune that fireworks had ignited on the lower roof of the granary, before spreading through the rest of the structure.

Peterson said with the help of surveillance from surrounding businesses and the granary itself, the Fire Department came to the conclusion that fireworks were the main cause of the fire.

In conjunction with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, Templeton Fire is still investigating potential suspects caught on surveillance, Peterson said.

The Sheriff’s Office said Monday that it was looking for four to six people of interest scene in the area on the night of the fire, as part of its investigation.

What happens to the rubble and debris of the granary?

On Thursday, South Main Street was reopened for the first time since Friday night’s devastating fire.

But after two days spent extinguishing the flames and another three demolishing the burned-out structure, Templeton’s main drag now looks nothing like it did just one week ago.

After both the north and south towers were brought down with the help of ABI Engineering Grading and Paving, the remaining rubble now sits enclosed by fencing alongside South Main Street.

Andrea Neider, an employee for the granary, said Chicago Grade Landfill, a waste management service located near Atascadero, will provide help cleaning up and clearing out what remains of the collapsed building.

In the meantime, the granary’s business is running out of Nature’s Touch Nursery and Harvest as of Monday.

Melanie Blankenship, owner of the nursery, told The Tribune she had loaned the area to the family business after they moved from Fourth and Main Street during demolition.

‘It didn’t have to happen’

The sudden loss of the landmark building was still reverberating through the community on Thursday.

Alisha Bravo grew up in Templeton for a portion of her life before later moving out of town.

But she returned to downtown on Thursday to see the site after the fire and reflect on her memories of the iconic building that defined the town for more than 70 years.

“Even if you didn’t know what it meant, it caught your eye,” Bravo said.

The night of the fire, Bravo’s husband showed her a video on Facebook of the grain building engulfed in flames.

“Brushing your teeth and crying at the same time is kind of tricky,” she said of her initial response to the news.

After looking through the comments of Facebook groups dedicated to the city of Templeton, Bravo said it was clear that many residents were upset by the unnatural cause of the fire.

“People are very angry because it didn’t have to happen,” Bravo said.

She said she hoped that investigators will be able to determine the complete cause of the fire that destroyed the historic building in the heart of Templeton’s downtown.

Anyone with information that could help with the fire investigation is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Detective Division at 805-781-4500. Anonymous tips can be shared through Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867 or online at slotips.com.

This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM.