Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a mid terraced shop with dwellings above on High Street, Walthamstow.
Part of the ground floor was damaged by the fire. Firefighters led nine people to safety from flats above the shop. There are no reports of any injuries.
Control Officers took the first of two calls at 0509 and mobilised crews from Walthamstow, Leytonstone and Tottenham fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 0632.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and was caused by an electrical fault in a water heater.