Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a scaffolding yard on New Road in Rainham.
An area of timber and general waste was alight. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 1718 and the fire was under control by 1917. Fire crews from Wennington, Ilford, Hornchurch and East Ham fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.