Staff photo / Richard Logan ... This house at 3801 Northlawn Drive, at the corner of Montrose Street, in Liberty was severely damaged in a house explosion Saturday night that investigators say was caused by illegal fireworks. Two men and a 4-year-old girl were critically injured in the blast, which could be heard and felt for several miles.

LIBERTY — Illegal fireworks are being blamed for a Saturday evening house explosion and fire that critically injured two men and a 4-year old girl, according to investigators.

Liberty fire crews were called out just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday to a home at the corner of East Montrose Street and Northlawn Drive, which had a large gap in the front because of the explosion.

Liberty fire Chief Doug Theobald said the three victims were taken to local hospitals and the two adult men were then flown to trauma and burn centers in Cleveland because of their injuries.

“All three victims suffered critical injuries from the explosion,” Theobald said.

He said investigators at the scene of the explosion believe illegal fireworks are the cause.

Theobald said two of the victims were out of the home when fire crews arrived and safety crews were able to get into the house and rescue the third victim.

Theobald said the Youngstown Bomb Squad responded to the scene and several neighboring fire departments also assisted.

“There were two significant explosions one right after the other. From the damage done, they were two very powerful explosions,” Theobald said.

Residents in other parts of Liberty, as well as Girard, Hubbard and Youngstown, heard the explosion and felt their homes shaking, reports state. Theobald said fire officials in other communities reported hearing two loud booms and homes shaking.

The home had extensive damage, with windows blown out, and will need to be demolished, Theobald said. Names of the victims have not been released.

As a precaution, residents of nearby homes were evacuated after the explosion late Saturday but have since returned to their homes.

Theobald said the home and property have been checked and all explosives have been removed.

Fire investigators were back at the scene on Sunday. Theobald thanked all the fire crews, emergency medical service, bomb squad personnel and others who responded and assisted at the scene.

Jason Cooke, executive director of Healthy Hearts and Paws Project in Warren, said he received a call early Sunday from Trumbull County 911 dispatchers to assist the Liberty Police Department after the explosion because the family dog was running outside.

Cooke said he found the dog and brought it back to the shelter. He said the dog was uninjured, but was very scared and confused and kept trying to get back into the house.

“The dog is now safe and sound at the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project animal shelter,” he said.

Cooke said a relative of the family had contacted him and was going to stop and get the dog on Sunday.