A fire started by a cigarette completely destroyed the extension of a house in Dalston on Tuesday night.
The person inside the Mulberry Road home tried to tackle the blaze themselves before calling 999 at 8.50pm.
Crews attended but the fire gutted the timber extension at the back of the house and spread to neighbouring wooden structures on either side.
Part of the ground floor was also damaged.
It took 25 firefighters from Shoreditch, Islington, Bethnal Green and Stoke Newington to extinguish the fire, which they did in an hour.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “It appears that the resident tried to tackle the fire which led to a delay in calling the Brigade. If there is a fire in your home, get out, stay out and call 999.
“The earlier we receive your call the quicker we can respond to your emergency.”
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