The owner of a Bedford food market says a firewall he installed during a renovation project did what it was supposed to.

“That saved us,” said Cameron Khandan, owner of Persepolis Food Market, as he looked at the aftermath from a fire that hit the building housing his business and one other on Tuesday morning.

Halifax Regional Police and Halifax regional fire responded to a fire at the one-storey building housing the market and the adjacent Tu Do Restaurant at 1225 Bedford Highway just before 2 a.m.

When firefighters arrived on scene, fire was shooting out of the roof of the restaurant. There was no one inside.

“There was a large volume of flames, coming out of the top of the structure,” said Halifax regional fire spokesman Capt. Dave Meldrum.

It took firefighters about two hours to get the blaze under control. They were then able to go inside and put out any hot spots.

Meldrum said the firewall between the two businesses saved the market from receiving the extensive damage the restaurant did.

“A very large part of the roof has burned clear through and there is serious damage to the interior of the restaurant,” he said. “On the other side, at the market, there is very little fire damage.”

Khandan said while he’s relieved by that, it wasn’t easy for him watching the adjoining restaurant on fire.