A devastating fire that destroyed a number of shops at Belconnen Markets and caused an estimated $500,000 worth of damage was believed to have been deliberately lit, The Canberra Times reported on this day 37 years ago.
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The fire was reported to emergency services at 3.15am on Friday, December 2, 1983 after flames were spotted coming from the market roof.
Australian Federal Police First Constable Dave Baker said there was evidence a "fire accelerant, probably a liquid such as petrol, had been used in a number of places to start the fire".
The fire took 20 firefighters about 30 minutes to control, but not before two fruit markets and two garden shops were completely destroyed.
Although the markets would open that morning as usual, Belconnen Markets manager Gordon Gorrell was concerned about the effect the fire - one of a spate of fires over the preceding months - would have on small business owners.
"It's a fear we all live with," he said. "It doesn't matter if you are covered by insurance. You still lose an awful lot of business particularly at this time of the year. It is a very worrying time for us all."
See more at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12865963
