Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a shop with flats above on Plumstead High Street.
The ground floor of the mid-terraced shop was damaged by the fire. Firefighters led three women to safety and another four adults left the flats above before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1552 and the fire was under control by 1734. Fire crews from Plumstead, Erith, East Greenwich and Bromley fire stations were at the scene.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a fault within an air conditioning unit.