Two fire engines and 10 firefighters and officers were called to a fire in a block of flats with a shop below in Romford Road, Manor Park last night.
Half of the first floor flat roof was damaged by fire.
Seven people were led to safety.
The Brigade was called at 1858 and the fire was under control at 1953. Fire crews from Stratford and Poplar fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is believed to be a fault within the commercial air conditioning system.