Testalinden Creek fire near Oliver – photo courtesy BC Wildfire Service

Prince George, B.C. – The cause of the Rock Creek wildfire in southern B.C. remains under investigation.

The ferocious fire, which has destroyed 30 homes and 15 additional outbuildings, is believed to be human-caused, most likely the result of a carelessly discarded cigarette butt.

“We have fire investigators in place, but this is something that is very difficult to pinpoint and to find proof,” said Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson during a teleconference today. “This is why we’ve asked this morning for a possible video that might assist us. If anybody has any information we’d like them to share it with us.”

He said anyone found guilty of sparking the fire could faces penalties ranging “from fines to being assessed for the cost of the fire.”

Thomson also expressed his frustration about a drone which grounded fire crews near Oliver yesterday.

“This is really frustrating. We (Thomson and Premier Christy Clark) were at the airport when the helicopters were grounded,” he said. “You could really see the visible frustration of the pilots and the wildfire team. It’s not acceptable. We will be looking at something from a legislative perspective to see how to strengthen consequences.”

Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek with the BC Wildfire Service said the 3,750 hectrare fire just west of Rock Creek is zero percent contained.

But he noted better progress on the two other threatening fires in the region.

Skrepnek said the 1,600 hectare Testalinden Creek fire is 40 percent contained while the 317 hectare Wilsons Mountain fire is now 70 percent contained.