Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to a fire at an industrial estate on Kemp Road in Dagenham.
A range of workshops including a car repair workshop were damaged by the fire and three vehicles inside the workshop were destroyed. There were no reports of any injuries.
Firefighters cooled three gas cylinders to an ambient temperature and removed them as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.
The Brigade was called at 2247 and the fire was under control by 0052. Fire crews from Dagenham, Barking, Ilford, Romford and Hornchurch fire stations were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.