AUSTINTOWN TWP., Ohio - With no date to return in sight, the 140 displaced residents living in the Phoenix House are getting the essentials from their apartment.

This is after days of only having the clothes on their back. Half of the residents got their items between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tuesday. The rest will be getting their items out Wednesday.

Since the elevator and electricity are not working, some residents needed to rely on help from volunteers to get items out. First responders, the State Fire Marshal, nonprofits, city employees and volunteers all had a role in helping residents get their items out.

The safest floors are being cleared first from top to bottom. The three floors most impacted by the explosion will be the focus Wednesday.

“We're not doing three, four or five today, because those three floors have a pretty decent amount of damage. So we need to get the hallways cleaned up a little bit still to get safe travel paths through there. And we'll be doing that tomorrow,” said Dave Schertzer, Austintown Fire Chief. 

Firefighters lit up the building, and kept watch on the floors being cleared out, while volunteers escorted residents into their apartments. Those unable to go to the building are using an IPAD to identify items for volunteers to pick up.

Austintown police made sure residents took their own items out. In fact, police have been watching the building since the explosion.

“There's been a police officer here since it occurred on Saturday. Around the clock 24/7,” said Valorie Delmont, Austintown police chief.

Local businesses also offered resources. The Red Cross gave monetary donations to residents so they could buy essentials they were unable to get out of the building.

Counselors were also on site for those having a difficult time.

Most pets were located and taken out of the building Sunday. Animal Charity of Ohio is asking for dry and wet cat food Cat litter and litter boxes

Schertzer said if the apartments are torn down, there will be other days for residents to take out items. Tuesday’s cleanout was focused on essentials.

The next focus is on determining if the building will be repaired or torn down.

“We're going to kind of, you know, start turning the building over to the insurance and the building owners and management team so that they can start the process. You know, we're coming into cold weather. There's concerns about water pipes freezing and breaking and additional damages and things that can happen,” said Schertzer.

Construction crews are already in the building and are draining pipes to prevent further damage. 

On Monday, Schertzer said that "preliminary findings appear that it is likely a result of a natural gas explosion." He also said that investigators have not yet determined the source of the gas or what may have ignited it.

Schertzer said the State Fire Marshal’s investigation showed that the blast patterns were consistent with a natural gas explosion.