Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a recycling centre on Thames Road in Barking.
Approximately 100 tons of metal recycling was alight. Around 10 people left the site before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
Station Commander Colin Digby, who was at the scene, said: "Crews worked hard in hot weather to bring the fire under control.
"It was an arduous job due to nature of the fire, which meant hotspots remained in the piles of metal and because it was so warm.
"On-site diggers were used to lift up and pull out the metal so jets could be put onto the hotspots.
"Thames Road was closed while crews tackled the blaze."
The Brigade was called at 1332 and the fire was under control by 1633. Fire crews from Barking, East Ham and Plaistow fire stations were at the scene.