Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a takeaway restaurant on Romford Road in Manor Park.
Part of the ground floor of the takeaway restaurant was damaged by fire. Three people left the flats above the takeaway before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a fault with the temperature display and control for a fridge.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The alarm was raised when a member of the public smelled burning in an adjacent road. On investigation they saw smoke coming from a ground-floor window at the rear of the restaurant. They alerted occupants in the flats above the takeaway and called 999. On arrival, crews were faced with heavy smoke.
“If your white goods start making a strange noise, don’t ignore it. If you think there’s a problem always unplug it and contact the manufacturer or a qualified repair technician.
“Most fires where white goods are the source of ignition are not down to anything you have done – so always make sure you register your appliances as you’ll be informed if any issues are identified with the product you’ve bought.”
The Brigade was called at 0909 and the fire was under control by 1008. Fire crews from Stratford, Ilford, East Ham and Plaistow fire stations attended the scene.