A Catford dry-cleaners was damaged in a fire which is believed to have been caused by self-heating textiles.
Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to the fire in Catford Broadway. Almost half of the ground floor shop was damaged by the fire.
The unoccupied flats above the shop were also smoke logged. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade’s fire investigators believe the fire was caused by self-heating textiles.
Firefighter Tom Wootton, who was at the scene, said: “It was very smoke logged when we got there and the fire caused extensive damage to the shop floor.
“These types of fires often involve materials which have become contaminated with oil, such as linseed, massage and cooking oil on tea towels, tablecloths and chef whites.
“Sometimes when these materials are cleaned, put in tumble dryers and then folded and stacked, the heat cannot escape, which results in a high enough temperature to smoulder and eventually ignite.
“If you are washing then drying on a hot cycle, always use the cooling cycle on the tumble dryer so it cools down and allows the heat to dissipate properly, before stacking laundered items.”
The Brigade was called at 2248 and the fire was under control at 2357. Fire crews from Forest Hill, Greenwich, Lee Green and Beckenham fire stations attended the scene.