Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters have been called to a fire on Roman Road in Bow.
Part of a ground floor shop, with flats above, was alight. The ground floor retail unit was extensively damaged by fire. An internal staircase was also destroyed by the fire.
People were asked to avoid the area whilst crews worked to bring the fire under control.
The Brigade received the first of three calls at 1559, and the fire was under control by 1810. Crews from Bethnal Green, Homerton, Shadwell, Stratford and Whitechapel fire stations are at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.