Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire on an industrial estate on River Road in Barking.
Mixed recycling inside three shipping containers was alight, along with a pile of rubbish and a skip. There were no reports of any injuries.
People in the area were advised to continue keep windows closed due to smoke travel.
A water relay system was implemented as part of firefighting operations. Appliances were stationed between the incident site and the nearest water hydrant, and then connected together by hose. This allowed crews to pump a constant supply of water to the scene of the fire.
The Brigade received the first of five calls at 1408 and Control Officers mobilised crews from Barking, Plaistow, Ilford, Poplar, Stratford and Leytonstone fire stations to the scene. A 32-metre turntable ladder from Dagenham Fire Station also attended and assisted in extinguishing the from height. The fire was brought under control by 1620.
The fire is believed to have been caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "If you smoke it is vitally important you stub it right out, preferably in an ashtray.
"Always ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire as you don’t know what it may land on which could potentially start a fire."
Smoking safety top tips
- It's safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
- Never smoke in bed, and avoid smoking on arm chairs and sofas – especially if you think you might fall asleep.
- Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs or if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
- Use proper ashtrays, which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly.