Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Attendant Current
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General Evacuated; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
Flight Deck was getting ready to pushback and the APU shut down; all power in aircraft shut off. 2 times this happened. Ground crew communicated by signal there was a fire. Ground crew called the fire department; and banged on the door 'open and get everyone off.' Captain opened the flight deck and said 'open the main door.' There was white smoke coming from the aft of the aircraft. Captain said 'Ground crew says get everyone off the aircraft.' I could not/did not turn on any lights. I just stated; 'Ladies and gentlemen; we have a situation and would like everyone to get off the aircraft. Leave everything; take only what is in your hand; and exit the aircraft. There are people here to help....' and they all got off.The APU 'broke.' The white smoke and flames that the ground crew saw was excessive fuel. Our Captain went to talk to everyone in the gate and explained; what an APU is; that the smoke was excessive fuel; and that we will be able to safely take this aircraft. 2 passengers took a different flight because they were going to miss their international flight; 1 passenger declined to go. Everyone else went as scheduled.
CRJ-200 Flight Attendant reported an APU fire due to excess fuel just before pushback that resulted in all passengers exiting the aircraft.