The London Fire Brigade has said an unattended candle is what caused the flat fire on Bigland Street in Shadwell.
Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters raced to the second floor flat on Sunday, May 5.
One woman was led to safety by fire crews and 15 others left the block before they arrived.
The LFB was called to the fire just after 6pm and had it under control just before 8pm. It said the flat was badly damaged in the fire.
Crews from Shadwell, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Islington, Shoreditch and Dowgate all attended the incident.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Candles are one of the most common causes of fire. It’s really important that you never leave a candle unattended and keep them away from anything else that can easily catch fire.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here