Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters were called to a fire at flats above a shop on Sangley Road in Catford.
A pile of rubbish at the rear of the building had caught alight and set the roof of a flat alight. The pile of rubbish and a small part of the roof, as well as guttering and flat fascia were destroyed by the blaze.
Seven residents evacuated two flats before the Brigade arrived. No injuries are reported.
The Brigade was called at 0102 and the incident was over by 0402. Fire crews from Lewisham, Forest Hill and Lee Green fire stations were in attendance.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental and due to the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.