B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130; Flight Crew Total 4302
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft
During taxi out; ATC alerted us to a tailpipe fire from the #2 engine. Both engines had been running for longer than 5 minutes by this point. We stopped the airplane and ran the engine Tailpipe fire checklist shutting down the #2 engine. We requested ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) ground personnel be dispatched to the aircraft immediately. We communicated with the cabin crew to report back if they had observed any fire/smoke indications. Cabin crew reported no fire or smoke. ARFF responded shortly after the tailpipe fire checklist had been completed. We communicated with ARFF on a different frequency when they arrived. ARFF confirmed non-specific indications of a fire in engine #2. There were no indications of a fire on the flight deck. Further indications from the cabin crew indicated some fumes in the aft cabin but no fire/smoke. Communication from ARFF personnel was brief and non-specific about details of what was being observed with regard to engine #2. During radio communication; ARFF asked us to verify that the engine fire bottles had been discharged. The emergency personnel on the radio implied the engine #2 fire bottle should be discharged. As a precaution; and without specific details regarding the status of the engine fire; lack of visual reference to the situation - both fire bottles on engine #2 were discharged. After further inspecting the engine and aircraft; ARFF determined a fire was no longer present and low heat was observed coming from the engine. The aircraft was towed back to gate 96 with ARFF escort. All passengers were deplaned safely into the boarding area. Logbook entries were entered.
B737 Captain reported being advised of a tailpipe fire while taxiing to the runway.