Two people were given vital fire survival guidance by 999 control officers before being rescued from a maisonette fire on Campbell Road in Bow.
A man and a woman were alerted to the fire when they heard their smoke alarm sounding. They tried to leave the property but their escape was blocked. Both occupant gathered the cages of two budgerigars and withdrew to the balcony at the rear of the property on the second floor and called the Brigade.
They were given advice about how to stay safe while they waited for firefighters to arrive.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus led the man to safety from the first floor balcony. A woman was given a fire escape hood which she wore to block out tonic smoke and was led to safety via the internal staircase. They were both treated for smoke inhalation and treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
The Brigade was called at 0237 and the fire was under control by 0316. Firefighters from Poplar, Millwall, Bethnal Green and Shadwell fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.