Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a paper recycling factory on River Road in Barking.
Part of the factory was damaged by fire. Some gas cylinders were involved in the fire so firefighters put in place a safety cordon while they cooled down the cylinders, as they can explode when exposed to heat.
The Brigade was called at 0623 and the fire was under control at 1438. Fire crews from East Ham, Plaistow, Ilford, Dagenham, Poplar, Stratford and other surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.