Six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers dealt with a fire at warehouse converted into a maisonette on Morris Road in Poplar.
The fire damaged half of a maisonette on the third and fourth floors. Two men tried to fight the fire before escaping the building. Firefighters are warning about the dangers of people trying to tackle fires in their own homes.
Station Manager Steve West, who was at the scene said:
"Never try and fight fire yourself, always leave it to the professionals. Thankfully the two men who tried to tackle the fire got out in time but they suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews."
The Brigade was called at 1048 and the fire was under control by 1152. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.