London firefighters battling the fire in a block shops in Yorkton Street. Image: @LondonFire

A large fire in a block of shops on Yorkton Street, and affecting the Hackney Road generated plumes of smoke seen in many parts of London.

At the height of the blaze, ten fire engines and 72 firefighters and officers were attending the incident at a joinery business and workshop.

Plumes of smoke seen from miles around. Image: @LondonFire

One man’s been taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Station Manager Keith Cunnew said:

A member of the public spotted smoke and called the Brigade. On arrival crews wearing breathing apparatus helped three women and three men to leave the properties either side of the fire and two other people left the property before the Brigade arrived. The structure of the building has been seriously damaged by the blaze.

Firefighters from Soho, Islington, Holloway, Shoreditch, Homerton, Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, Tottenham and Poplar fire stations worked at the scene to control the fire.

The Brigade was called just after 1 pm and it took nearly four and a half hours to bring the fire under control.

One person taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and burns. Image: @LAS_HART

Crews are expected to be at the scene for some time damping down.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire on Yorkton St #Hackney is now under control although crews will be there for some time damping down. http://t.co/o0emeq8d8U

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

We're making steady progress fighting the fire in #Hackney & busy damping down for some time london-fire.gov.uk/LatestIncident… http://t.co/4FXvbEb9fv

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

Hackney area. Assisting at scene of large fire. @MPSHackney

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NPAS London (@NPASLondon) June 15, 2015

Crews are currently working hard to contain a substantial fire in a row of shops in Hackney. http://t.co/jTeFrrzeMz

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LFB BEXLEY (@bexleyfire) June 15, 2015

Large fire #HackneyRoad Diversions in place. Please avoid the area. Expected to last into this evening. #GDERTB http://t.co/g7F1wX6qR7

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Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) June 15, 2015

Further images of 72 firefighters tackling the blaze on Yorkton St in #Hackney http://t.co/TsJmvan0Ah

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

#Hackney: Ambulance crew, response paramedic, duty officer & @LAS_HART remain on standby w/ @LondonFire #Haggerston http://t.co/PLVGdTuDQ0

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ChrisHawkswell, EP07 (@LAS_TacAdvisor) June 15, 2015

Crews working hard fighting the fire on Yorkton St in #Hackney range of shops and roof alight http://t.co/5JVhfinWsO

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

Multi-agency commanders at the #Hackney fire, good job | #Haggerston (Pic @MPSHackney) @LondonFire @Ldn_Ambulance http://t.co/AzVpO9Gkwu

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ChrisHawkswell, EP07 (@LAS_TacAdvisor) June 15, 2015

Witness at scene of the Hackney fire says "smoke was so thick you couldn't see out the window" bit.ly/1HJJjjj http://t.co/5sc5FuU4v9

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Evening Standard (@standardnews) June 15, 2015

Hackney Rd (E2) is now CLOSED both ways between Columbia Road and Queensbridge Road due to a building fire. Please seek another route.

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TfL Traffic News (@TfLTrafficNews) June 15, 2015

Lunchtime drama in East London! Amazing work from @LondonFire http://t.co/u0vPEH2bND

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Paul Jacob (@pauljacob74) June 15, 2015

Three ambulance crews, a duty officer & @LAS_HART are at a fire on Yorkton St #Hackney with @LondonFire & @MPSHackney http://t.co/apjPTdeABQ

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ChrisHawkswell, EP07 (@LAS_TacAdvisor) June 15, 2015

@LondonFire brigade looks to be winning, the smoke is still wide-spread... http://t.co/ykgS6ZAKv5

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Alicia Millar (@ForceofLearning) June 15, 2015

#Hackney fire can be seen for miles. The blaze in a range of shops © @ForceofLearning london-fire.gov.uk/LatestIncident… http://t.co/fdC6TimEMP

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

Thick black smoke coming from the blaze on Yorkton St #Hackney. Please close your doors & windows © @ScipioAfricana http://t.co/vkUM71w6y4

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

Hackney road this afternoon 😷 http://t.co/mIe7SvoD0c

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The FRENCHIE (@thefrenchieuk) June 15, 2015

We're fighting a fire in a range of shops on Yorkton Street in #Haggerston 10 fire engines at the scene http://t.co/aAjBmzU8cD

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 15, 2015

The fire at the joinery & workshop #ThisWeek in #Hackney is believed to be accidental london-fire.gov.uk/LatestIncident… http://t.co/BNWlBmT3Cv

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London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) June 21, 2015