AUSTINTOWN TWP., Ohio - According to the Austintown Fire Department, crews are responding to an explosion at Phoenix House apartments near North Meridian Road and I-680. Multiple injuries have been confirmed by Austintown Assistant Fire Chief Tom O' Hara, who is in charge of the scene. 

Assistant Fire Chief O'Hara said that there was one individual with more severe injuries who was "transported rapidly" to the hospital. That person's condition or the severity of injuries is unknown at this time.

Other injuries are reported to be minor, with multiple "walking wounded" that were not taken to the hospital.

Video Courtesy: Americon Restoration of the Ohio Valley (americonrestoration.com)

Authorities say there are no confirmed fatalities at this time. It is unclear how many people may have been injured.

Mahoning County Commissioners said in a statement: "Local and surrounding emergency services are actively working to ensure the safety of all residents and to assess the full extent of the situation and actively working to evacuate residents."

The commissioners added that the cause of the explosion is unknown at this time, but 21 News crews on the scene said that there was an odor of gas in the air.

Officials say that crews responded to the explosion on the fourth floor of the building, and mutual aid was called upon from other departments including Weathersfield, Canfield and Girard.

Residents tell 21 News they heard a loud noise and felt the building shake just after 12:30 p.m. A portion of the building is exposed, and firefighters could be seen searching through the exposed portion of the structure.

WRTA buses transferred residents from the site to the Austintown Elementary School, where they will be temporarily housed until further arrangements are made.

Phoenix House is listed as a senior resident apartment for elderly and disabled citizens, along with low-income residents. The building houses roughly 130 residents in total.

Assistant Fire Chief O'Hara says that the structural integrity of the building is being investigated, but crews believe the building to be stable. However, O'Hara is working to get an engineer to confirm if the building is structurally sound or not.

The Mahoning County Dog Warden and Animal Charity Humane Society are partnering to provide shelter for displaced animals who may have been impacted by the explosion.