All nine tenants affected by a devastating fire Sunday at a city home owned by a charity have had their basic needs met, including new apartments, food and clothing.

But the building’s owner, the Lighthouse Foundation, has yet to decide if the structure should be rebuilt or torn down.

“We just don’t have enough information yet,” said Allan Osterwise, interim executive director at the Lighthouse.

The fire apparently began shortly before 5:30 a.m. in the kitchen of the second-floor apartment, which included a portion of the attic space.

Investigators suspect improperly discarded cigarette butts in a plastic garbage container accidentally started the blaze.

Authorities initially believed the fire was electrical. But that theory, while not ruled out, changed after fire officials sifted through the debris Monday.

“We dug through the melted garbage can and found discarded cigarette butts, said Butler Fire Chief Nick Ban.

He said the burn pattern indicated the garbage container burned from inside, not outside, suggesting that is where the fire started.

Ban noted the Lighthouse Foundation prohibits smoking in its homes. Instead, tenants have designated smoking areas outside.

Investigators speculated that the second-floor tenant possibly was smoking outside and dumped an ashtray full of still smoldering butts into the garbage container in the kitchen.

The state police fire marshal continues to investigate.

No one was injured. Osterwise said fire damage to the top two floors of the house in the 400 block of Ridge Avenue was extensive. And the lower portion of the building was damaged by water.

The Lighthouse Foundation, a nonprofit facility that offers transitional housing and emergency shelter to those in need, purchased the home about four years ago.

Osterwise said all of the people — which included men women and children — who had been living in the house are in an assistance program that lasts up to 18 months and likely will have graduated before a final resolution is concluded to the damaged building.

However, Osterwise said there’s been an outpouring of support by the community. Inquiries and donations can be directed to charity’s Internet site at www.thelighthousepa.org.

Eagle staff writer Jim Smith contributed to this report.