Arsonists are believed to have struck when parts of a restaurant were set alight in the early hours on Friday.
Firefighters were called to a fire at the rear of a Chinese restaurant in Lodge Avenue, Barking, at 5.30am.
A fence and parts of an outhouse at the back of the building were damaged by the blaze.
Crew manager Stephen Benson said that police attended and believed the fire was the result of a suspected arson attack.
He added that the fire had been under control within minutes thanks to the “outstanding” and “professional” work of the fire officers involved.
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