Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a block of flats in Bluehouse Road in Chingford.
A communal area on the ground floor of the block was completely damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1522 and the fire was under control at 1621. Fire crews from Woodford, Chingford and Walthamstow fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.