The local emergency services have responded to an area of terraced houses in the borough of Croydon after one of the houses collapsed.
The incident happened in Thornton Heath in south London just after 7am on Monday local time.
Neighbors reportedly rescued three children from the rubble, according to Sky News.
Their mother is believed to have been evacuated in turn.
There is currently no information on missing persons or more serious personal injuries.
A resident of the area told the TV channel that they heard a loud bang from several streets away.
Others state that two weeks ago they smelled a strong smell of gas, and others that they felt dizzy and nauseous in recent days.
It is unclear whether it was in any way connected to what happened.
The cause of the fire and explosion is so far unknown, according to the rescue service, according to The Guardian.
The text is updated.