Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a house converted into flats in Belgrave Road, Ilford.
A small part of a four-roomed flat on the ground floor and a small part of the staircase were damaged in the fire. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1428 and the fire was under control at 1511. Fire crews from Ilford, East Ham and Barking fire stations attended the scene.
The fire was accidental and the Brigade's fire investigators believe it was caused by combustible materials being stored too close to an incandescent light bulb.