Manhari Metals manager Maddy Dupta is still counting his losses, saying the mishap was a further blow during a tough economic period.

Twenty Metropolitan Fire Brigade members attended at noon and used five trucks to control the blaze, a Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said.

"It was quickly brought under control, but a number of small fires continued to burn in the stacked-up cars.

"We had to bring them down to allow the firefighters to be where the fires were burning," he said.

"The fire was not regarded as hazardous to residents as the wind wasn't blowing in any direction to cause a problem." Environment Protection Authority spokeswoman Ruth Ward said there was no oil or other hazard concerns at the site.

"There were no issues from our point of view," Ms Ward said.

The car yard at 31 Maida Avenue had been operating for six months, Mr Dupta said.

"If we didn't have such a big pile of cars we could have saved something, and we had our good cars piled up, too. Some we were going to use and some smash.

"This is the first fire in my life."

The cause of the fire is being investigated, but it's not believed to be suspicious.