COLUMBIA, SC — A fire early Wednesday that put two people in the hospital and damaged 12 apartments was caused by discarded smoking material, according to the Columbia-Richland Fire Department.

Strong winds also played a part in the fire at Stone Ridge Apartments near Greystone Boulevard, which caused an estimated $272,000 in damages, the department said in a release. Two of the apartments were destroyed in the fire.

Firefighters from Columbia-Richland and the Irmo Fire District worked the fire and brought the blaze under control in under three hours.

Richland County EMS took two people to the hospital for smoke-related issues.