Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended a fire at a house on Marlborough Avenue in Hackney.
Most of the second floor of a four-roomed maisonette over two floors was destroyed by the blaze. A man left the property before the Brigade arrived. He was treated for shock by London Ambulance Service at the scene. There were no reports of any other injuries.
The cause of the fire is accidental. An incense burner in the living room is believed to have caught fire to some papers and furniture nearby.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
“Candles, incense and oil burners are one of the most common causes of fire within homes. It’s really important that you never leave incense burners unattended and keep them away from curtains and anything else that can easily catch fire.
"We advise to place these in a suitable fire-resistant candle-holder which won’t be knocked over, and make sure you put them out entirely when you leave the room.”
The Brigade was called at 0842 and the fire was under control by 0944. Fire crews from Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Homerton and Islington fire stations attended the scene.