Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire in a hostel in Canton Street, Poplar.
Part of a room on the first floor was damaged by fire. Twenty people left the building before the Brigade arrived and there were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1647 and the fire was under control by 1720. Fire crews from Millwall, Shadwell, Dockhead and East Greenwhich fire stations attended the incident.