Fire rips through house on Leyton Crescent

CTV London: Leyton Crescent blaze House in northwest London goes up in flames. Sean Irvine reports.

A homeowner in northwest London is lucky to be alive after fire ripped through his house Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to 565 Leyton Crescent just before 12 p.m.

Once on scene, firefighters had to deploy an aerial water canon to help put out the blaze from the rear of the home.

The homeowner escaped without injury.

It's not clear how the fire started and there is no damage estimate at this time, but it is extensive.