Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a food shop with a flat above on High Street in Orpington.
A single storey lean-to at the rear of the food shop was completely destroyed. Three men left the property before the Brigade arrived and thankfully, no injuries are reported.
Station Officer Joe Pressney was at the scene, he said: “This incident highlights the importance of working smoke alarms and heat detection. If the smoke alarms had not sounded while the residents were asleep this could have been a very different outcome.
“Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start except kitchens or bathrooms where heat alarms are more appropriate.”
The Brigade's 999 Control officers received their first call alerting to the fire at 0419. The deployed crews from Orpington, Biggin Hill and Sidcup fire stations. The fire was under control by 0633.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.