Young Templeton Feed & Grain Arsonists Identified as Community Begins to Recover
TEMPLETON, Calif. - Four juveniles accused of burning down the historic Templeton Feed and Grain building could face arson charges.
The SLO county sheriff’s office says all four juveniles involved are males and that one of them intentionally threw an illegal firework at the building.
“It took so much from so many people,” says Andrea Neider, who works for Templeton Feed & Grain. “We have people come all the way from Nevada for our rabbit feed. We have people all the way from L.A. We have just multiple—everybody in the area and we're wholesale.”
The Templeton Fire Department is taking the lead in the case, and is working with the slo county district attorney's office to determine the specifics of the arson charges.
“I’m still working with the sheriff's department on age and name and those types of things,” says Tom Peterson, Templeton Fire Department’s chief. “They have that information. I’ve not asked for that yet, but we will be getting that. And then at that point, we're going to have to figure out what we do with regards legally about the age.”
Templeton fire chief Tom Peterson says this is the very reason fireworks not labeled ‘safe and sane’ are illegal, and next year they’ll be increasing the consequences of their use.
“Something I want to reiterate to the community is that illegal fireworks are just that—they're illegal,” says Chief Peterson. “And we are going to try and put measures in place that eliminate the illegal use. We've only had problems in the community from the illegal fireworks, not the legal.”
Thanks to overwhelming community support, Templeton Feed & Grain will be able to continue its business, moving as soon as possible to a temporary location next to Quinn Rentals on Ramada Drive.
“Everybody in the community has stepped up, They've been so wonderful,” says Neider. “We have had a lot of donations.”
The community is also in support of returning the business to its current, well known location.
If you’re interested in supporting Templeton Feed & Grain further, please visit their website by clicking here.
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