Templeton Feed & Grain ‘fit right nicely’ in this little town. Who destroyed it? | Opinion

Every community has — or should have — at least one treasured landmark that has stood for generations, linking the past to the present and, hopefully, to the future.

In San Luis Obispo, it’s the Mission. In Atascadero, the City Hall Rotunda Building. In Arroyo Grande, the Swinging Bridge.

And in Templeton, it was Templeton Feed & Grain — until someone destroyed it on the Fourth of July, leaving an entire town bereft.

The big, industrial-looking building — it included a 105-foot grain elevator and two silos — was unique in that it was smack dab on the main street of town, yet seemed not at all out of place amid the trendy restaurants and shops.

Local photographer Lars Mikkelsen described it perfectly on Facebook:

“This giant building dominates the skyline far away, yet seems to fit right nicely into the small town of Templeton,” he posted back in early January.

Just six months later, the two wooden grain towers have been reduced to piles of rubble. Only the original concrete portion of the building, which dates back to 1912, survives.

As many already suspected, officials say fireworks caused the blaze.

A deadly Fourth in California

There is one good thing to be said: No deaths or injuries occurred in the Templeton fire, which was not the case in several other fireworks-related incidents that shook California this year.

• In a Yolo County community about 30 miles from Sacramento, seven people died in an explosion at a warehouse that stored fireworks used in pyrotechnic shows. The explosion ignited a 78-acre brush fire.
• In Buena Park, an 8-year-old girl died when illegal fireworks set off in the street misfired, striking her home.
• In Simi Valley, one man died when fireworks exploded inside a garage.
• And in Pacoima, one man was killed, at least five were people injured and four homes were destroyed in an illegal fireworks explosion.

All this unnecessary tragedy, in spite of ever-increasing restrictions on personal use of fireworks.

Too often, those restrictions are flat out ignored.

In San Luis Obispo County, for example, this was the first year that personal, “Safe and Sane” fireworks were prohibited in Oceano, yet fireworks could be heard — and seen — at several locations in the community and in surrounding areas over the entire July 4 weekend.

Is it time for a total ban?

A total ban on fireworks throughout the state of California may seem to make sense, but that would not put an end to the problem. It could even lead to an even bigger black market in highly dangerous, illegal fireworks.

Heavy enforcement and punishment, however, could convince July 4 partiers that the thrill of setting off a few bottle rockets is not worth the risk of getting caught or — even worse — killing or injuring someone.

That’s one reason why it’s so important to help authorities track down whoever is responsible for the Templeton fire.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to hear from anyone who can assist in identifying four to six “persons of interest” who were spotted on security cameras the night of July 4. They were dressed in black and one was carrying a backpack.

Also, if you have any surveillance footage of the area, taken between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. on July 4, authorities are asking you to share it.

Whoever did this does not deserve a pass.

This was not some youthful prank that went awry. Tossing a flammable object onto a wooden building late at night, when there is no one around to immediately respond, is done with a purpose in mind.

And in this case, it wasn’t just a building that was destroyed in the fire; the heart of a community went up in flames, too.

Please, do not let those who are responsible get away with it.