EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Confusion; Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During rotation the fire bell turned on and could not be turned off. There was no other indication of a fire; i.e. no EICAS message or fire light on overhead panel. No power loss was seen in E1 or E2 and a normal takeoff profile was flown. We had a very hard time hearing each other in the cockpit and communicating with the Flight Attendant but we were able to communicate with ATC and Company Operations fine. We notified Departure of the issue and asked/received vectors back for a visual approach to Runway 32L. Upon landing the fire bell turned off. We had the emergency response team circle the aircraft once we stopped on the taxi way to verify there was no fire. Because the fire bell was so loud and could not be turned off; the cockpit became a very difficult place to communicate. Also we were in the air for a very short time and due to time constraints it was very difficult to determine if the Flight Attendant had prepared the cabin etc. Looking back on the event I could have taken a more reactive tone to communicate what the Captain would have wanted from the Flight Attendant and Ground Operations.
During takeoff an EMB-145 Fire Bell sounded which could not be silenced but with no accompanying light so an emergency was declared and the flight returned to the departure airport where the alert ceased upon landing.