SMOKE billowed out a disused church after a pile of papers were set alight in Blackheath.
Crews from East Greenwich and Greenwich fire stations found a small fire in the Banchory Road building at 1.30pm.
Temporary watch manager Kevin Webber said he suspects someone has been living in the church.
A make-shift bed was found within the building.
Mr Webber has contacted Greenwich Council to request the building is boarded up.
He said: "It was a little fire which caused a lot of smoke and it looked worse than it was.
"There was evidence someone was living there and the potential for fires is a bit concerning."
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