A fire that gutted a popular market centre in Perth’s north-east was deliberately lit, according to authorities.<\/p>\n
More than 120 firefighters have been battling the blaze at the Morley Market centre on the corner of Bishop and Progress streets since about 12:30am today.<\/p>\n
It took more than 120 firefighters several hours to contain the blaze and prevent it spreading to nearby buildings.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More than 120 firefighters attended the fire. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)<\/p>\n
Department of Fire and Emergency Services incident controller Andre Duckworth said those efforts were successful, but the fire had torn through the market.<\/p>\n
“Every business in the market building has been impacted to some extent,” he told ABC Radio Perth.<\/p>\n
“The building is about 5,000 square metres and the fire has moved through the entire structure to one extent or another.<\/p>\n
“The roof of the building has collapsed and there’s a lot of smouldering still happening inside.”<\/p>\n
Police investigating blaze<\/p>\n
Mr Duckworth said the fire was not an accident.<\/p>\n
“We know it’s deliberate and I can’t say any more than that,” he said.<\/p>\n
The arson squad and WA Police Force detectives are investigating as we speak.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Authorities say most, if not all, businesses at the Morley Market complex have been gutted. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)<\/p>\n
The market was home to dozens of food and retail outlets, many of them family-run businesses that had been in operation for decades.<\/p>\n
Mr Duckworth said it was “almost certain” most, if not all, of those stores were now gone.<\/p>\n
At least one shop owner has already begun an online fundraising campaign to help rebuild.<\/p>\n
A smoke warning has been issued for the area, and people are being urged to avoid the scene.<\/p>\n
Community hub<\/p>\n
Local plumber Shane Calegari said the market had been a mainstay of the area since the 1960s.<\/p>\n
“I reckon it’s been here more than 60 years,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Before the Galleria or any other places came here, it was actually the local key part of the Morley shopping centre in those days. [It is] probably closer to 70 years old.”<\/p>\n
Mr Calegari said the mix of outlets attracted a range of people.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Before the fire, Morley Market was filled with an eclectic mix of businesses. (Supplied: Philip Rechter)<\/p>\n
“There’s a bloke that services sewing machines. There’s a jeweller in there, there’s the newsagent people in there,” he said.<\/p>\n
“People that do trading. There’s nail people. There’s a fruit and veg shop. There’s a very large Chinese restaurant, there’s four or five smaller shops in there that do that sort of thing. Coffee shops.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Morley Market has been a hub of community activity for decades. (Supplied: Philip Rechter)<\/p>\n
Mr Duckworth said locals should take adequate precautions, but stressed there was no need for panic.<\/p>\n
“Every structure fire is a cocktail of different compounds, ” Mr Duckworth said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got restaurants in there, we’ve got shops, all sorts of things.<\/p>\n
“But for the neighbourhood, it’s very well diluted by the time it’s reaching homes or businesses.”<\/p>\n
Morley Market business owners can attend a meeting with fire authorities at the Morley Public Library at 9am.<\/p>\n
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