The owner/operator of a ski resort in southeastern B.C. has offered a $100,000 reward for the capture and conviction of an arsonist.

Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), which owns six ski resorts in Canada, announced the reward in a February 10 bulletin after a police investigation into a fire that damaged the Northstar Quad Chair at Kimberley Alpine Resorts (KAR).

The December18, 2021, fire, which RCR said was attended by the Kimberley Fire Department and the RCMP and later investigated by both departments, broke out at about 3 a.m.

The blaze "destroyed the lift control building adjacent to the upper terminal of the North Star Express lift, the main ski lift on the front side of the Kimberley Alpine Resort," the release stated.

No one was hurt in the blaze.

A December 20, 2021, blog post on the KAR website by general manager Ted Funston updated skiers and the local community on the fire's aftermath: 

"As soon as the seriousness of the incident became clear our thoughts immediately turned to all the families, children, and other keen skiers and riders who we love and who would be losing access to the mountain via the Northstar Quad chair until we can get it fixed again.

"Our hearts also go out to everyone in Kimberley who makes a living dependent on tourism and the operation of the ski resort, including the owners of many of the businesses in town, and the great staff who work for them."

The $100,000 will be awarded to a person or persons who provide information "that leads to the location, arrest and conviction of suspects involved in the destruction of the lift control building on December 18th, 2021", RCR said.

According to RCR, the RCMP advised the company—which also owns three golf resorts and five lodges, including the Polaris Lodge in Kimberley—on January 10 that the investigation determined that the fire was arson and that it was "deliberately set".

"KAR/RCR appreciates the RCMP's efforts in this investigation and are assisting and supporting them in any way we can, including offering this $100,000 reward," RCR said in the release. "KAR/RCR has been communicating with the RCMP about offering the reward since the day the fire was determined to be arson."

RCR asked that anyone with any information regarding the crime call the RCMP in Kimberley—not the company or the resort—at 250-427-4811.

"For more information on the terms and conditions of the Northstar Quad Chair reward please contact reward@skikimberley.com," RCR said in the bulletin.