Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a sheltered accommodation house of three floors on Prospect Road, Woodford Green.
On arrival of the Brigade most of the residents had self evacuated but a further three were led to safety by firefighters. One adult woman was removed to hospital as a precaution. Around 30 people in total evacuated the building.
The fire is believed to have started outside the property and fire damaged a small part of flats on the first and second floor as they had their windows opened.
The Brigade was called at 1458 and the fire was under control at 1630. Fire crews from Woodford, Walthamstow, Chingford, and Hainault fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.