For the third time in a span of 15 months, fire has caused significant damage to a historic building in the city.

The fire in a two-story brick building on the 100-block of West Jefferson Street left at least 25 people homeless Wednesday.

The future of the building, which housed 14 apartments and China Palace restaurant, is now in question.

No injuries were reported. However, one or more cats might have perished, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by a state police fire marshal.

Tenants Richard Bruno and Randy Schuller said they were standing on the sidewalk outside the building and spotted fire on the second floor.

“We were talking and my son starts pointing up at the corner of the building and said, 'Look, look, look,'” Schuller said. “It filled up with smoke really quick.”

Bruno said he called 911 and fire crews were at the scene within minutes.

Although the fire seemed to be contained to a couple of apartments, both men lamented losing their homes and likely all of their possessions.

“My clothes are ruined, but I'm still hoping my gun and TVs are OK,” Bruno said.

Several tenants said they did not have renters insurance.

The building is owned by Alpine Apartments. A property manager declined to comment Wednesday.

John Chen, who owns China Palace with his wife, Tong, said there were two customers and several employees in the restaurant when he saw smoke along the ceiling.

“I told them, 'Go, get out, get out,” he said.

Chen said Wednesday that he had insurance and after 27 years in Butler, he would like to stay in business here.

“I like it here; this is a good building,” he said.

As displaced tenants stood on Jefferson Street and watched, Bill Atkinson, owner of the Chop Shop restaurant on Main Street, walked to the scene and offered free food and a warm place to sit.

Mike Robb, executive director of the Center for Community Resources, also invited the tenants to the CCR's office.

Dan Tobin, American Red Cross spokesman, said in an email Wednesday night that the agency was providing food, clothing and temporary lodging for roughly 25 people affected by the fire.

Firefighters from numerous departments were dispatched to fight the blaze. The Butler City Fire Department was assisted by the Butler Township Station 3, Mercer Road, South Butler, VA and Penn Township fire departments. The Saxonburg and Butler Township department brought ladder trucks, because the Butler ladder truck is not in service.

Ted Codispot, Butler fire captain, said Wednesday that John Evans, city code enforcement officer, would inspect the building Thursday to determine whether it should be torn down.

Firefighters worked at the scene for more than three hours, trying to pinpoint and extinguish fire in the roof, before smothering the remaining hot spots with foam.

Fighting this fire posed similar challenges to the March 2016 fire in the former Worsley's building on Main Street, Codispot said. Both buildings had a second roof built on top of the original roof, he said.

“This was another building with a two-roof system and the fire got in between the first and second roofs,” Codispot said. “Luckily we were able to get to it more quickly this time.”

About one year after battling a blaze in the Worsley's building, city firefighters fought a major fire in a Center Avenue apartment building that was formerly home to Hutch's Diner. Both buildings have since been torn down.A damage estimate was unavailable Wednesday night as fire crews continued to investigate and clean up the property. A couple of upstairs apartments sustained heavy fire damage, while the building took heavy smoke and water damage.Tenants would likely be allowed back in to try and salvage possessions Thursday, Codispot said.The former Evergreen Business Center building on the corner of Jefferson Street and North Washington Street, which is vacant, suffered minor smoke damage and a broken front door as firefighters entered to see if the fire had spread.Realtor Chuck Swidzinski was at the scene Wednesday night to check on that building for its owner, Hector Casatenda, who lives in California. The building is being remodeled and remains for sale, Swidzinski said.The apartment building, which is 134, 136, 138 and 140 W. Jefferson St., is more than 100 years old and was home to a wide variety of businesses over the years, according to old Butler city directories.Among the businesses formerly located in those storefronts were Exile Records, Bauer Pharmacy, LCR Carry Out Restaurant, F.M. Kraus bakery, Joseph Bordonaro Fruit Market, Salvation Army, Milheim Music Store and Farm and Dairy Products Store.An advertisement from a 1916 edition of the Butler Eagle indicates that Niggel's Oyster House was formerly located at 134 W. Jefferson St.