Columbia Fire Department responded to a structure fire Monday morning on the 1600 block of Hinkson Avenue.
CFD companies arrived within three minutes of initial dispatch to find smoke in the second story of a three-story apartment complex.
CFD were able to limit damage to the structure and prevent the fire from spreading to additional areas within about three minutes of arrival.
All occupants of the unit had safely evacuated prior to CFD arrival and there were no reported injuries.
The Columbia Fire Marshals Battalion has said following an investigation that the most probable cause of the fire was improperly discarded smoking materials on the deck area.