COLUMBIA -- A fire at Civic Recycling in Columbia is under investigation.

The Columbia Fire Department said a motorist driving by noticed smoke coming from Civic Recycling at 3300 Brown Station Road at about 6 a.m. Friday morning.

The fire was in a paper storage area and when firefighters got to the scene the automated sprinkler system had already been activated.

Firefighters said the sprinkler system kept the fire under control until they were able to completely extinguish it.

It is unknown what the damages are or what caused the fire.