Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at semi-detached house on Faringdon Avenue in Bromley.
Most of the ground floor was damaged by fire. One man left the building before the Brigade arrived and was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by an unattended candle which was left on top of an armchair.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Candles are one of the most common causes of fire. It’s really important that you never leave a candle unattended and keep them away from curtains and anything else that can easily catch fire.
“You should also ensure they are in a heat-resistant holder and placed on a stable surface so they won’t be knocked over.
“It’s also a timely reminder to never try to tackle a fire yourself, as the resident discovered the fire in the living room and attempted to tackle the fire before leaving the property.
“If there is a fire in your home, get out, close the door behind you, stay out and call 999.”
Firefighters’ candle safety top tips
• Make sure you put out any candles, incense and oil burners when you leave the room and especially before bed.
• These items should always be held firmly in heat-resistant holders and placed on a stable surface where they won’t be knocked over.
• Keep them away from materials that might catch fire – that's things like curtains, furniture, clothes and hair.
• Be especially careful if you have a lot of flammable items in your home, like collections of books, magazines or papers.
• Be aware that tea lights get very hot and without proper holders can melt through plastic surfaces like a TV or bath.
• To avoid accidents keep candles and other naked flames out of reach of children and pets.
• LED candles can be a great alternative – they're safe even if you fall asleep or forget to blow them out
The Brigade was called at 0558 and the fire was under control by 0653. Fire crews from Bromley and Orpington fire stations attended the scene.