Five fire engines and 31 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a block of flats in York Hill, West Norwood.
A small part of a seven-roomed flat on the second floor was damaged in the fire and half of a communal area on the second floor staircase was damaged.
Two women, one man and five children were rescued by crews wearing breathing apparatus. A further four people self evacuated the flat opposite as a precaution.
The Brigade was called at 0249 and the fire was under control at 0350. Fire crews from West Norwood, Brixton and Norbury fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.