Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a fire in a basement on Hessel Street in Whitechapel during the early hours of this morning.
The fire damaged a small part of the basement and 11 people were led to safety from the first floor of the building by crews wearing breathing apparatus.
The Brigade was called at 0036 and the fire was under control by 0220. Crews from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Bethnal Green and Dowgate fire stations attended the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.