Morley Market business owners still struggling one year after devastating fire

Topic: Fires Demolition has begun on the Morley Market after a fire gutted the building. (ABC News: Kenith Png) Mojgan Fakhar says she found the weeks after the fire extremely difficult. (ABC News: Mya Kordic) The market housed more than 20 stores and restaurants, most of which were family-run. While some have managed to re-establish their businesses at other sites, others are still on the hunt for somewhere to start again. Mohammad Frahim, who ran Monte Carlo Hairstylists, a barber shop within the complex, said despite his best efforts, finding a new site had so far proven impossible. "It's very hard to re-establish; some people they get a chance, they can do it, some people … are not getting that chance," Mr Frahim said. A Department of Fire and Emergency Services debrief document written after the blaze, seen , details problems identified during its investigation, including that a "local alarm" was not operational. The fire quickly took hold of the building in September 2025. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni) The debrief said "early detection of the fire would have occurred" if the local alarm had been working and it might have resulted in early containment. For business owners, that was a tough pill to swallow. Mina Eshan, who lost more than $200,000 worth of assets when Bella Skin Clinic was gutted in the fire, said there were still too many unanswered questions. Mina Eshan still does not have all the answers she needs. (ABC News: Mya Kordic) "It's not just about money or compensation, it's about something like this not happening again, and not putting other people's lives in danger," she said. The Morley Market is now a vacant site, as pictured from an aerial photo in June. (Supplied: Nearmap) "Space was also made available at Morley Library for appointments between service providers and impacted business owners." Ms Piffaretti said the city had not yet received any applications to redevelop the site, which remained vacant and fenced off. Meanwhile, a multi-million-dollar upgrade of the Morley Galleria shopping centre is well and truly underway across the road. Morley Galleria shopping centre is undergoing a renovation. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)