Six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a shop with flats about in High Street, Barkingside this morning.
Part of the ground floor and part of the first floor were damaged by fire.
Two adults and one child left a first floor flat and three adults left a second floor flat before the arrival of the Brigade. A further five adults and four children self evacuated adjacent properties as a precaution.
The Brigade was called at 0117 and the fire was under control at 0334. Fire crews from Hainault, Ilford, Woodford, Leytonstone and Stratford fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.