One seriously injured after east London house fire

One person was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a home in London's east end caught fire Thursday afternoon.

The house fire on Avalon Street between Clarke Road and Patterson Avenue sent a thick column of smoke billowing into the sky, visible kilometres away.

"Just after 3:00 this afternoon we received calls in regards [the house fire]. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy smoke and fire, and found one individual on the front lawn," said Colin Shewell, a London Fire Department platoon chief.

Crews administered first aid to the person before knocking the fire down from the yard and entering the home. Upon entering the home, crews did not find anyone else inside, Shewell said.

The person found on the lawn was then taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to police. It's unclear what injuries that person sustained.

Neighbouring homes were evacuated as a safety precaution at the time of the fire, police said. As of 5:00 p.m., Shewell said no evacuations were still underway.

With damages estimated at $500,000, Shewell said officials are investigating to find the cause of the fire.

Avalon Street was closed for several hours between Clarke Road and Patterson Avenue in London.