Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a block of flats on Barons Place in Southwark.
Half of a four-roomed flat on the second floor of the building was damaged by fire. Four people left the building before the Brigade arrived and were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews. Firefighters assisted a further four people to safety from neighbouring flats.
Station Officer Adam Hills, who was at the scene, said: "On arrival there was quite a lot of smoke in the area and the fire had broken out of the front and back of the building.
"This incident shows just how important it is to have working smoke alarms. When crews arrived, smoke alarms fitted inside the property were sounding, giving the residents the earliest possible warning to the fire.
“You should have working smoke alarms in every room where a fire can start, for example any room where appliances are plugged in, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen and the bathroom. They should be tested regularly.”
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took 12 calls to the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 0154 and the fire was under control by 0332. Fire crews from Lambeth, Dowgate, Dockhead, Soho and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.