The roof of an East Village building went up in spectacular flames yesterday, sending waves of black smoke billowing over the neighborhood.

The five-story building at the northeast corner of East Houston Street and Avenue A was under renovation.

“It was just like a small barbecue fire, 45 minutes before the actual fire,” said Parvez Ahmed, 25, owner of a nearby burger joint, Munchies. “Then there was an explosion and the whole building was engulfed.”

The Fire Department was notified of the four-alarm blaze at 5:36 p.m.

The fire — which was limited to the building’s roof and top floor — was contained by 6 p.m.

Eight firefighters, of the 138 who responded, suffered minor injuries.

FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Joseph Pfeifer said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.