A large fire was raging in East Vancouver Wednesday night, lighting up the night sky and sending plumes of smoke rising into the air.

The fire broke out just before 10 p.m. PT at an industrial building just off Hastings Street, between Clark Drive and Mclean Drive.

It sent thick plumes of black smoke high into the air, visible from all over the city.

Bangs and pops coming from inside building. More material inside catching fire. <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcnewsbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/ojGEMZ4Mnl">pic.twitter.com/ojGEMZ4Mnl</a> —@DanBurritt

'A chemical cocktail that one could never imagine'

Assistant Chief Kevin Wilson was on scene at the fire and said they had to call the hazmat team in for a short period of time after they became aware of some potentially dangerous chemicals in the building.

"With the print shop you've got all kinds of inks and acetones and cleaning compounds, extensive amounts of paper," said Assistant Chief Kevin Wilson.

"A chemical cocktail that one could never imagine is all together with massive amounts of heat."

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/VanFireRescue?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VanFireRescue</a> crews dealing with a large fire near Pender and McLean. Smoke can be seen as far as Cambie/Broadway <a href="https://t.co/e7qsUY81yN">pic.twitter.com/e7qsUY81yN</a> —@gpsmendoza

Smoke seen across city

Wilson also warned residents of the area to shut their windows for the night due to the presence of thick smoke.

"Elderly and young children, anyone with a compromised immune system, please keep your windows and doors closed and avoid this smoke," he said.

Big fire in East Van with smoke and smell reaching across the city <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcnewsbc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCVancouver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCVancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CTVVancouver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CTVVancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/starvancouver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@starvancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VancouverSun?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VancouverSun</a> <a href="https://t.co/2LHdsS9RIK">pic.twitter.com/2LHdsS9RIK</a> —@calvin616

Wilson confirmed there was no one in the building when his crews first arrived.

Fire officials said the three-alarm blaze drew more than 15 fire trucks and 65 firefighters to the scene.

They said they're not sure how the fire started, but will be investigating after it's fully contained.