Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a blaze at a car showroom and workshop on New Road in Rainham.
The fire was in a scrapyard and damaged a number of motor vehicles. Part of a single-storey workshop and office was damaged by fire. There were a number of gas cylinders also involved. The cylinders were removed as some can explode when exposed to heat. One man was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The fire produced a lot of thick black smoke into the sky. We asked local residents to close their doors and windows.”
The Brigade was called at 1019 and the fire was under control by 1232. Fire crews from Dagenham, Hornchurch, Wennington, Erith, Stratford, Harold Hill and Plaistow fire stations were at the scene. Firefighters from Essex and Kent also assisted us at the incident
The fire is believed to have been caused by burning rubbish which spread out of control.