Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a fire in a lean-to and neighbouring house in Sydney Road, Barkingside.
The lean-to was completely destroyed by fire. Around half of the ground floor and part of the first floor of the end of terrace house were damaged by fire. A small part of the guttering of a neighbouring property was also damaged. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a candle.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Candles, incense sticks and oil burners are one of the most common causes of fire. We’d recommend swapping traditional candles for safer flameless LED alternatives, but if you do use real candles, it’s so important to never leave them unattended.
“Always make sure that they’re held firmly in heat-resistant holders and placed on a stable surface where they won’t be knocked over.
“This incident is also a reminder of just how important it is to have working smoke alarms in your home. There were smoke alarms fitted in the property but they did not have a working battery.
“Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts. We encourage everyone to have smoke alarms fitted in every room where a fire could start, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen. It's important to test them regularly.”
The Brigade was called at 1444 and the fire was under control by 1525. Crews from Ilford, Woodford, Leytonstone, Plaistow and surrounding stations were at the scene.