Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a flat fire on Amhurst Road in Hackney.
Half of a four-roomed flat on the fourth floor of the building was damaged by fire. Crews led eight people to safety from flats on the fifth and sixth floors. There were no reports of any injuries.
Leading Firefighter Paul Campkin, who was at the scene, said: “Smoke was coming out of the rear of the building and travelled upwards, affecting flats above.
“We led residents to safety from flats on the two floors above the affected flat due to smoke logging.”
The Brigade was called at 0531 and the fire was under control by 0625. Fire crews from Homerton, Bethnal Green, Stoke Newington, Islington and Shoreditch fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.