Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to a fire at an office building on Silver Street in Enfield.
Part of an undercover car park on the ground floor of the 10-storey building was damaged by the fire. Three vans and three cars were also damaged. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took almost 50 calls to the blaze.
Station Commander Richard Arnold, who was at the scene, said: “We believe the fire started in a recycling bin and the flames spread and caught a vehicle alight.
“Due to the fact the car park is undercover, it caused a lot of thick smoke to billow out into the surrounding area which made it look like a really serious incident.
“Fortunately, there were no people involved and no one was injured.”
The Brigade was called at 1509 and the fire was under control by 1604. Fire crews from Enfield, Edmonton, Southgate, Chingford, Tottenham and Barnet fire stations were at the scene.
The Brigade's fire investigators believe the cause of the fire is the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
Safety advice for smokers:
• It's safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
• Never smoke in bed, and avoid smoking on arm chairs and sofas – especially if you think you might fall asleep.
• Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs or if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
• Use proper ashtrays, which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly.
• Don't balance cigars or cigarettes on the edge of an ashtray, or anything else – they can tip and fall as they burn away and cause a fire.
• Don’t leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended.
• Always empty ashtrays carefully. Make sure smoking materials are out, cold and preferably wet them before throwing into a bin – never use a wastepaper basket.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach, and buy child resistant lighters.
• Never smoke if you use healthcare equipment like medical oxygen, an air flow pressure relief mattress or emollient creams.
• Consider additional safety measures such as fire retardant bedding or nightwear.