Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a flat fire on East India Dock Road in Poplar.
Firefighters rescued six people from a second floor balcony via a ladder. They were all assisted at the scene for smoke inhalation and one woman was taken to hospital.
The Brigade was called at 2247 and the fire was under control by 2349. Fire crews from Poplar, Millwall, Whitechapel and Shadwell fire stations were at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.