RuntimeException: Unable to get provider com.google.firebase.provider.FirebaseInitProvider (Android 4.4)

Ошибку гуглил,все варианты испробовал. На устройствах 5/5.1/6.0/7.0 приложение запускается и работает корректно При запуске приложения на устр. андройд 4.4 получаю такое сообщение и соответ. вылет:

FATAL EXCEPTION: main
              Process: com.handlingcitizen.handlingcitizen, PID: 14309
              java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to get provider com.google.firebase.provider.FirebaseInitProvider: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: Didn't find class "com.google.firebase.provider.FirebaseInitProvider" on path: DexPathList[[zip file "/data/app/com.handlingcitizen.handlingcitizen-1.apk"],nativeLibraryDirectories=[/data/app-lib/com.handlingcitizen.handlingcitizen-1, /vendor/lib, /system/lib]]
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.installProvider(ActivityThread.java:4793)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.installContentProviders(ActivityThread.java:4385)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.handleBindApplication(ActivityThread.java:4325)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1500(ActivityThread.java:135)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1256)
                  at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
                  at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:136)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5017)
                  at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
                  at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
                  at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:779)
                  at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:595)
                  at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
               Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: Didn't find class "com.google.firebase.provider.FirebaseInitProvider" on path: DexPathList[[zip file "/data/app/com.handlingcitizen.handlingcitizen-1.apk"],nativeLibraryDirectories=[/data/app-lib/com.handlingcitizen.handlingcitizen-1, /vendor/lib, /system/lib]]
                  at dalvik.system.BaseDexClassLoader.findClass(BaseDexClassLoader.java:56)
                  at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:497)
                  at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:457)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.installProvider(ActivityThread.java:4778)
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.installContentProviders(ActivityThread.java:4385) 
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.handleBindApplication(ActivityThread.java:4325) 
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1500(ActivityThread.java:135) 
                  at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1256) 
                  at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102) 
                  at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:136) 
                  at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5017) 
                  at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method) 
                  at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515) 
                  at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:779) 
                  at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:595) 
                  at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method) 

Gradle:

    apply plugin: 'com.android.application'
android {
    compileSdkVersion 24
    buildToolsVersion "24.0.2"
    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.handlingcitizen.handlingcitizen"
        minSdkVersion 18
        targetSdkVersion 24
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
        testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
        multiDexEnabled true
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
    useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy'
    packagingOptions {
        exclude 'META-INF/DEPENDENCIES'
        exclude 'META-INF/NOTICE'
        exclude 'META-INF/LICENSE'
        exclude 'META-INF/LICENSE.txt'
        exclude 'META-INF/NOTICE.txt'
    }
}
dependencies {
    compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
    androidTestCompile('com.android.support.test.espresso:espresso-core:2.2.2', {
        exclude group: 'com.android.support', module: 'support-annotations'
    })
    compile('org.apache.httpcomponents:httpmime:4.3.6') {
        exclude module: 'httpclient'
    }
    repositories {
        mavenCentral()
        maven {
            url 'http://dl.bintray.com/gigamole/maven/'
            maven { url 'https://jitpack.io' }
        }
    }
    compile project(':lib_image_selector')
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:24.2.1'
    compile 'com.android.support:design:24.2.1'
    compile 'org.apache.httpcomponents:httpclient-android:4.3.5'
    compile 'de.hdodenhof:circleimageview:2.1.0'
    compile 'com.joooonho:selectableroundedimageview:1.0.1'
    compile 'com.github.rey5137:material:1.2.4'
    compile 'com.github.gigamole.slideimageview:library:1.1.4'
    compile 'com.squareup.picasso:picasso:2.5.2'
    compile 'uk.co.chrisjenx:calligraphy:2.2.0'
    compile 'com.squareup.retrofit2:retrofit:2.0.0'
    compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:10.0.1'
    compile 'com.android.support:multidex:1.0.1'
    compile 'com.android.support:multidex:1.0.1'
    compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-maps:10.0.1'
    compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:10.0.1'
    compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-places:10.0.1'
    testCompile 'junit:junit:4.12'
}

Manifest

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />

<permission
    android:name="example.gps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
    android:protectionLevel="signature" />
<!-- Copied from Google Maps Library/AndroidManifest.xml. -->
<uses-sdk
    android:minSdkVersion="9"
    android:targetSdkVersion="24" />

<!-- Maps API needs OpenGL ES 2.0. -->
<uses-feature
    android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
    android:required="true" />
<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@drawable/logo"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:largeHeap="true"
    android:supportsRtl="true"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
    <activity
        android:name=".MainActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:screenOrientation="sensorPortrait"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme"
        android:windowSoftInputMode="stateAlwaysHidden|adjustPan" />
    <activity
        android:name=".activity.Activity_welcome"
        android:screenOrientation="sensorPortrait">
        >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name=".permission.PermissionsActivity"
        android:screenOrientation="sensorPortrait"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" />
    <activity
        android:name=".activity.Firstactivity"
        android:screenOrientation="sensorPortrait" />
    <activity
        android:name=".save_user_information.SaveData"
        android:screenOrientation="sensorPortrait"
        android:windowSoftInputMode="stateAlwaysHidden|adjustPan" />
    <provider
        android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
        android:authorities="${applicationId}.provider"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/provider_paths" />
    </provider>
    <activity
        android:name="me.nereo.multi_image_selector.MultiImageSelectorActivity"
        android:configChanges="orientation|screenSize" />
    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
        android:value="@string/google_maps_key" />
    <activity
        android:name=".location.MapsActivity"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_maps" />
</application>