Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a house converted into flats on Birling Road in Erith.
Most of the ground floor and part of the first floor of the two-storey semi-detached building was damaged by the blaze. One person left the building before the Brigade arrived and was assessed at the scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service Crews.
A smoke alarm alerted the resident to the fire.
Station Officer, Mick Llinas, who was at the scene, said “Crews were faced with a visible fire in the hallway when they arrived and smoke coming from the rear of the ground floor.
“Firefighters worked hard to tackle the blaze.
"Fortunately, smoke alarms alerted the occupant to the fire, so this incident is a timely reminder about how important it is to have working smoke alarms.
“They give the earliest possible warning to fire and you should have them in every room where a fire can start, for example any room where appliances are plugged in, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen and the bathroom. They should be tested regularly.”
The Brigade was called at 1740 and the fire was under control by 1850. Fire crews from Erith, Bexley, and Plumstead fire stations were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.