Firefighters are reminding people about the importance of having working smoke alarms after a fire at a house converted into flats on Barking Road, East Ham.
Watch Manager David Southam, who was at the scene, said: “This incident is timely reminder about the importance of having smoke alarms in your home. In this case, the residents had a lucky escape as one of the residents got up to go to the bathroom, smelt burning and immediately called 999 and left the property with the two other family members.
“Homes need multiple smoke alarms or you won't be properly covered. As a minimum, you should have smoke alarms on every floor of your home - in the hallways and the rooms you use the most plus a heat alarm in the bathroom and kitchen."
Part of a first floor flat was damaged by the blaze. A small section of a ground floor flat was also affected by fire.
The Brigade was called at 0429 and the fire was under control at 0607. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Plaistow, Barking, Stratford fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.