AUSTINTOWN — A weekend explosion at a high-rise apartment complex off North Meridian Road has shaken the community, but safety crews and local agencies have come to the aid of the nearly 100 people who live there.

Safety crews were called out around 12:30 p.m. Saturday following the explosion of the Phoenix House apartments, 850 N. Meridian Road, which is across the street from the Youngstown border just off Interstate 680.

Township officials and safety leaders gathered Sunday afternoon to discuss the weekend’s explosion and how quick response from firefighters and police officers, and the community stepping up has helped the victims.

Austintown Assistant Fire Chief Tom O’Hara said after the explosion, parts of the building had fallen off the sides. He said police and fire agencies from

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