Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a flat fire above a shop on York Road in Ilford.
Part of a first floor flat was damaged by fire.
A smoke alarm alerted the residents in the flat above the property who called the Brigade and left before fire crews arrived. Fortunately, no one was in the flat where the fire started and no injuries are reported.
The Brigade’s fire investigators believe the fire was caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “If you smoke it is vitally important you stub it right out when you’ve finished smoking. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire. "
The Brigade was called at 2252 and the incident was over by 2348. Fire crews from Ilford, Stratford and East Ham were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is accidental.