Scores of firefighters battled a blaze that threatened a 2,000-litre tank of diesel as it ripped through an industrial bakery in north London.

It took about five hours for teams from London fire brigade (LFB) to bring the fire under control as it risked spreading to neighbouring factory buildings in Tottenham.

Huge clouds of smoke billowed above the surrounding area while the fire brigade tackled the blaze. Photograph: Francois Herisse/PA

The single-storey building was engulfed by flames as emergency services tried to isolate the fuel supply and protect it with jets of water.

Images on social media showed huge clouds of smoke billowing above the surrounding area while the fire brigade searched for four people who were unaccounted for, but later located. After being assessed by London ambulance service, the group were deemed to not require treatment.

The single-storey building was engulfed by flames as emergency services rushed to isolate the fuel supply and protect it with jets of water. Photograph: London Ambulance HART/PA

LFB was called to the bakery on West Mews, near West Road, at 6.20pm on Saturday. Crews from Tottenham, Edmonton, Walthamstow, Stoke Newington, Enfield, Holloway and other surrounding fire stations were dispatched to tackle the blaze.

The station manager, Ian Frame, who was at the scene, said: “Crews were confronted with a large fire when they arrived and worked hard to confine it to the bakery and stop it from spreading to neighbouring factory units. There was some fuel stored on site but crews isolated the supply and it was not involved in the fire.”

London fire brigade firefighters battling the blaze at the industrial bakery in Tottenham. Photograph: London fire brigade/PA

The blaze was brought under control by about 1am on Sunday, although a damping-down operation continued to ensure the flames were fully extinguished.

Local residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed throughout the night as a precaution as smoke continued to issue from the burned-out building.

The cause of the fire, which caused the front of the property to partially collapse, is under investigation.