Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a house fire on Crispin Close in Beddington.
Most of the ground floor and part of the roof of a semi-detached bungalow was damaged by the fire. A small part of the ground floor and roof of the adjoining bungalow was also damaged by the blaze. One man suffering from smoke inhalation was rescued from the adjoining property by fire crews wearing breathing apparatus, he was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.
Fire investigators found the bungalow didn’t have any smoke working alarms.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "This incident is a timely reminder to ensure you have working smoke alarms. You should have working smoke alarms in every room where a fire can start, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen and the bathroom. They should be tested regularly."
The Brigade was called at 0301 and the fire was under control at 0416. Fire crews from Wallington, Croydon, Norbury and Mitcham fire stations were in attendance.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.