Firefighters used a fire escape hood to rescue a woman from a fire at a flat on Rabbits Road in Ilford.
A small part of a four-roomed flat on the first floor was damaged by fire.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led a woman to safety via an internal staircase using a fire escape hood. She was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews and taken to hospital.
Fire escape hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people. If more than 15 minutes protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer. They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier.
The Brigade was called at 0458 and the fire was under control by 0528. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Stratford, Ilford and East Ham fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.