Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled a fire at a recycling warehouse on Thomas Road in Crayford.
Part of the conveyor belt and the hopper (a container for loose bulk waste) of a 20-tonne industrial paper shredder were damaged by fire. Around 20 people left the building before the Brigade arrived.
Station Commander Dave Hill, who was at the scene, said: "A conveyor belt used to move paper through an industrial shredder was alight and the building was heavily smoke-logged.
"Crews remained on scene this afternoon damping down. There were no reports of any injuries."
The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and most likely caused by a battery discarded amongst the paper to be recycled.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Batteries can present a fire risk when over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or if they are damaged, so it’s really important to store, charge and recycle them carefully using a proper battery recycling service.”
The Brigade was called at 1016 and the fire was under control by 1341. Fire crews from Plumstead, Bexley, Erith, Sidcup and Eltham fire stations and crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene.