Where there's smoke there's often fire, but that's not always true.
People in Vancouver who spotted white smoke floating over English Bay drifting from Spanish Banks posted images and concerned messages on social media Thursday morning (Sept. 19).
However, despite the visible smoke, it's not a cause for concern, said Vancouver Fire Rescue Service (VFRS) spokesperson Matthew Trudeau, as it's from a film crew working on location for a TV show filming in the 5000 block of NW Marine Drive.
"Our crews went by there this morning," he told V.I.A.. "It's a tough one because of how visible it is."
While the VFRS doesn't have many details, it's believed the production is intentionally putting fog on the water. On top of that, atmospheric conditions may have kept it from dispersing after its use.
Trudeau noted that the VFRS encourages people to call in whenever they see smoke.
"We are happy people are calling," he said, noting dispatchers have been alerted to the smoke.
The Coast Guard confirmed the source.
"The smoke is actually coming from a film crew, filming on the water this morning," Coast Guard spokesperson Kiri Westnedge told V.I.A. in an email.
Trudeau noted that the fact it's white is a sign it's not from a boat on fire, as some had theorized online.
"The only time it'd be light is if it's damp or organic material," he explains. "A boat on fire would probably be black or a different colour smoke."
The smoke is likely coming from the set for the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which will be shooting in the area today and tomorrow. Vancouver beaches are a popular spot for streaming shows this September, as Upload and The Last of Us both had sets in and around Stanley Park beaches.
With a file from Elana Shpert.
