Six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a block of flats on Paragon Road in Hackney.
The resident of the affected flat called 999 after her smoke alarm sounded. Station Manager Matt Burrows, who was at the scene, said:
"The resident of the affected flat acted quickly and did exactly the right thing. Upon hearing her smoke alarm and discovering the fire, she got out, closed the door behind her and called 999.
"Around 60 people left the building before the arrival of the Brigade. A number of further residents remained in their unaffected flats."
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led to safety one elderly man from the 9th floor and one elderly woman from the 11th floor. Both were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
Part of the flat on the 10th floor was damaged by fire.
The Brigade was called at 0813 and the fire was under control at 0920. Fire crews from Homerton, Bethnal Green, Stoke Newington, Shoreditch and Islington fire stations attended the incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.