Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a warehouse fire on Ilderton Road in Southwark.
Half of a mid-terraced unit used as a car repair workshop was damaged by fire. Three members of the public left a neighbouring property used as flats before the arrival of the Brigade. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire was discovered by a member of the public who was alerted to an alarm sounding. They then noticed sparks and smoke coming from the main entrance of the workshop and placed a call to the Brigade.
Firefighters removed three gas cylinders and cooled them to ambient temperature as cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.
The Brigade was called at 0043 and the fire was under control by 0523. Fire crews from Old Kent Road, Dockhead, Peckham, Dowgate, Greenwich and New Cross fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.