Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a severe flat fire on Denmark Place in Bow.
Half of the second floor flat was damaged by the blaze. A mother and son were suffering from smoke inhalation and taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
Twelve people self evacuated from the block and a further three people were treated for minor smoke inhalation.
The Brigade was called at 1819 and the fire was under control 1946. Fire crews from Poplar and Bethnal Green were at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.