Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a garage on Little Woodcote Lane in Purley.
The whole of the garage and a car were destroyed in the fire. Three gas cylinders were cooled to an ambient temperature and removed as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1043 and Control Officers mobilised crews from Purley, Wallington, Addington and Wimbledon fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 1249.
The fire is being treated as accidental and believed to have been caused by combustible items too close to a gas heater.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “It’s absolutely vital that heaters are kept well away from curtains, furniture, paperwork and are never used to dry clothes. Always sit at least a metre away from the heater as it could set fire to your clothes or your chair, supervise children carefully and position a heater where it won’t be knocked over and away from pets.
"It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure these items are safety registered and in good working order. If you’re using these items around children always supervise them carefully and place heaters somewhere where they won’t be accidentally knocked over and away from anything that could catch fire.
"Firefighters recommend that you have a look at our online Home Fire Safety Checker to make sure there are no hidden hazards in your home. The online tool will ask you a series of questions that will help us work out the level of risk in your home, or the home of someone you care for. It only takes a few minutes to get tailored advice to keep yourself and loved ones safe from fire.”