Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters were called to a fire in Randlesdown Road, Bellingham.
An outbuilding and a van were destroyed by fire. A car was damaged by fire, and part of two neighbouring first floor flats were also partially damaged. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took 45 calls about the fire.
During the fire two gas cylinders were removed and cooled to ambient temperatures, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat. Crews wearing breathing apparatus also carried out a systematic search of all the buildings involved.
The Brigade was called at 1707 and the fire was under control by 1827. Crews from Beckenham, Bromley, Forest Hill and surrounding stations were at the scene.
The fire is believed to have been caused by an incinerator used for burning packaging and timber spreading to nearby stacked wooden and plastic pallets.