Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to a fire at a business park on New Road in Rainham.
A range of single storey industrial units were damaged by fire. One shipping container and an open storage yard containing refuse, tyres and a flat bed tow truck were also destroyed by the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.
Crews removed 16 gas cylinders and cooled them to an ambient temperature as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.
The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took 17 calls to the fire.
The Brigade was called at 1622 and the fire was under control by 1721. Fire crews from Harold Hill, Dagenham, Barking, Ilford, Hornchurch and East Ham fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.