Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a house fire on Ford Road in Dagenham.
Most of the ground floor and half of the first floor of an end-of-terrace house were damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by items placed on an electric hob.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "You should never place anything that can catch fire near to the hob.
"Keep all objects, like tea towels, cloths and plastic bowls well away from the cooker and always check the hob is turned off when you've finished cooking."
The Brigade was called at 1001 and the fire was under control by 1120. Fire crews from Dagenham and Barking fire stations attended the scene.
Practical steps for safer cooking:
- Don't leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
- Not feeling 100%? Order a takeaway – if you're very tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that might make you drowsy, it's safer not to risk it.
- Be fabric aware – loose clothing can easily catch fire, so take care not to lean over a hot hob, and always keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
- Avoid keeping items such as toasters under cupboards or in contact with combustibles such as tea towels or kitchen roll to prevent heat build up (and possibly fire).
- Always keep an eye on children and pets in the kitchen: don't leave them unsupervised; put matches away; and keep saucepan handles out of reach.
