Staff photo / Dylan Bigelow....An explosion ripped through the Phoenix House apartment complex in Austintown on Saturday afternoon. Several people were reported injured.

AUSTINTOWN — An explosion Saturday afternoon at the Phoenix House apartments resulted in several injuries and major damage to the complex located at 850 N. Meridian Road, near Interstate 680.

Emergency crews from Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, Girard, Weathersfield and Youngstown responded to the scene, where an odor of gas was reported. But Austintown Fire Capt. Fred Marcum said the cause of the blast had not been determined.

Marcum said several Phoenix House residents were transported to hospitals, but the extent of their injuries was not yet known. As of Saturday evening, no fatalities had been reported.

Marcum said several buses transported other residents to Austintown Elementary School, where further medical evaluations were being done. Some residents were being reunited with families there. He said the American Red Cross is working with residents to find them housing.

The Mahoning County commissioners released a statement via social media urging people in the building’s vicinity to avoid the area, as emergency personnel are working on-site.

“The Commissioners are devastated by this incident and are focused on the safety and well-being of the residents and our community,” the release said. “The Commissioners’ priority is to support our first responders to ensure that all those affected will receive the necessary medical attention, shelter and assistance.”

The release said the commissioners are working with surrounding agencies to provide shelter and resources for displaced residents to be moved from The Phoenix House to the Austintown Elementary School and the Austintown Senior Center.

The Mahoning County Dog Warden is working with Animal Charity of Ohio to provide shelter for displaced animals.

The explosion occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. The blast tore away portions of the building’s outer walls and emergency responders could be seen working their way through that area, apparently in search of potentially injured or trapped residents.

Much of the damage appeared to be on the middle floors of the complex.

Phoenix House is home to elderly, disabled and low-income residents.

The seven-story 150-unit complex was built in 1970 and operated as a Sheraton hotel for several years.