Juveniles responsible for Templeton Feed & Grain fire, SLO County sheriff says
It’s been about two weeks since the iconic Templeton Feed & Grain granary burned down on the Fourth of July — and now suspects in connection to the fire have been identified.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said in a Thursday news release that four juvenile males who were all residents of North County were identified as being involved in the fire, with one being responsible for igniting the blaze.
Templeton Fire Department Chief Tom Peterson told The Tribune on Friday that fireworks ignited on the lower roof of the granary, before spreading through the rest of the structure.
As of Friday, all that remained of the building was the original white concrete portion of the granary built in 1912 beside a massive pile of rubble. The 105-foot granary towers were demolished.
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.
Templeton Feed & Grain co-owner and vice president Rick Jermin previously told The Tribune he believed the fire was arson after seeing surveillance footage that showed someone throwing a mortar at the side of the warehouse building, followed by sparks burning inside.
The Templeton Fire Department will work with the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office “to determine the arson related charges,” the release said.
What’s next for the Templeon Feed & Grain?
The family-owned business has partnered with Penny Newman Co. to continue manufacturing its special products.
After emergency demolition tore down the the granary’s warehouse, the business began selling out of Nature’s Touch Nursery and Harvest property and has continued to keep regular store hours there, Jermin said.
Jermin said Weyrick Lumber Company located North of Main Street in Templeton has supported the feed and grain business by loaning space for most of the granary’s inventory and loading vehicles.
In the next three weeks, Jermin said he hopes to begin selling out of their original site in the heart of Main Street following the cleanup of the rubble and debris that remains of the old granary.
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM.