Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a construction site on Vauxhall Bridge Road in Pimlico.
A lift shaft on the ground floor of a building containing around one tonne of refuse was destroyed by fire. Around 22 people left the premises before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
Station Commander Emma Carr, who was at the scene said: "On arrival, crews were faced with heavy smoke coming from the lift shaft.
"Firefighters cleared building waste to bring the fire under control and will remain on scene for a number of hours damping down.
"Buses in the area have been diverted and road closures are in place, so we urge locals to avoid the area whilst crews work to make the scene safe."
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took seven calls to the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 1407 and the fire was under control by 1625. Fire crews from Lambeth, Soho, Brixton and Euston fire stations are at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.