Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled a house fire on Third Avenue in Dagenham.
A row of seven terraced houses and one summer house were damaged by fire. One adult woman suffering from shock was treated on-scene by London Ambulance Service.
Station Commander Darren McTernan, who was at the scene, said: “Crews worked hard to bring the fire under control.
"We asked local residents to keep windows and doors closed due to significant amounts of smoke being produced from the fire.
"Road closures are still in place while firefighters remain on scene and the area is heavily congested. People are urged to avoid the area where possible."
The Brigade's Control Officers took more than 50 calls about the fire.
The Brigade was called at 1333 and the fire was under control by 1548. Crews from Barking, Hornchurch, Leytonstone and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.