The fire on the roof of a terraced shop and flats on Ashwin Street began just after 5pm yesterday (April 1) as the evening rush hour began.
A 60 metre-squared area of roof was destroyed by the blaze, which sent a highly visible chimney of dark smoke into the sky near Dalston Kingsland station.
The fire is understood by the fire service to have been accidentally caused by a lit cigarette not being put out properly.
Four fire engines and 25 firefighters from Stoke Newington, Islington and Shoreditch fire stations put the blze out around 6.30pm.
One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as an observation tower to provide the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “If you smoke it is vitally important you stub it right out, preferably in an ashtray.
“Always ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire as you don’t know what it may land on which could potentially start a fire.”
