Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire on Gorse Way in Romford.
Half of the ground floor of a two-storey mid-terraced house was damaged by fire. One man was rescued from the property wearing a fire escape hood by firefighters using breathing apparatus. He was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
Fire escape hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people. If more than 15 minutes protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer. They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier.
The Brigade was called at 0937 and the fire was extinguished by 1057. Crews from Romford, Dagenham and Hornchurch fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.