Morley Market: Business owners devastated by fire that destroyed popular shopping spot

Heartbroken business owners have spoken of their devastation over a fire that left the Morley Market completely gutted.

Almost a dozen businesses — most of which are family-owned — were destroyed in the blaze at Bishop Street in Morley, directly across from the Galleria shopping centre, about 12.40am on Wednesday.

The fire incinerated about 5000sqm of property, ravaging businesses including including T4 bubble tea, Monte Carlo barber, Far East Imports Asian grocery store, HY mobile phone repairs and May Beauty. The blaze contained and controlled by 8am and no one was injured.

And in a late twist, police have backtracked on their earlier claim that the fire was suspicious.

Dozens of firefighters were still at the scene on Wednesday morning, with thick smoke billowing out of debris.

Bishop Street Newsagency’s Peter Nguyen said the inferno had destroyed his store.

“We have been in business here for 20 years and have lost everything in this disaster,” he said in a social media post.

Alice, whose mother has owned May Beauty for the past three years, said she received the devastating news about 3am on Wednesday.

“I’m really saddened . . . I want to find out who did this,” she said.

“Hopefully locals will continue to support us when we reopen.”

Early in the investigation, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said officers had obtained CCTV footage that suggested the blaze was started by a firebug, but police later said the fire had been deemed non-suspicious.

“Our heart breaks for those small business owners confronting (the news of the fire) in the morning, and even the community of Morley; (Morley Market) is probably a place that they knew very fondly,” he told ABC Radio.

“The arson squad are down there, we are officially on the hunt for that person or persons who are responsible.”

Morley local Karl described the fire as “devastating”.

“It’s terrible, it’s finished, there’s no rebuilding here,” he said.

“They’re going to have to flip it and rebuild.”

He said the complex was owned by about a dozen separate shop owners.

Morley MP Amber-Jade Sanderson said the blaze was “devastating”.

“They have been the heart of our town centre long before Galleria came along,” she said.

“There are many small businesses who have been there for decades and my thoughts are with them.”

Mr Blanch said there was nothing to suggest the fire was linked to the notorious tobacco wars.

“There are no shops that fit that description (of selling illegal tobacco),” he said.

Late on Wednesday afternoon a police spokeswoman said the fire was not suspicious, a conclusion reached after an “extensive investigation”.

“No criminality has been detected,” the spokeswoman said. “DFES investigators will continue to examine the scene to determine the cause of the fire.”