Five fire engines and around 35 firefighters were called to a fire on Barclay Road in Croydon.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued one man from a fire at a derelict building, he suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
Part of the ground floor of the six-storey building was damaged by the fire.
The Brigade's Control Office took the first call at 0903 and sent fire crews from Croydon, Woodside, Norbury and other surrounding fire stations to the scene. The fire was under control by 1121.
The fire is believed to have been caused by combustible material placed too close to a heat source.