EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Climbing out; we got an E-1 fire bell; EICAS; and red handle. We verified that all three were present and proceeded to run memory items. When we retarded the thrust lever the messages and bell and light all went out. I determined that we should continue as if it were a fire so I declared an emergency and asked to go back to [departure airport]. We ran [the procedure] and returned on one engine. Before returning I asked the First Officer if he felt comfortable flying single engine and he did; so I managed ATC; PA; flight attendant; and checklists. The First Officer lost some altitude but that was after we declared an emergency and the area was cleared.After we landed I pulled off the runway; had the fire crew visually inspect the aircraft and check with a heat gun to verify there was no presence of fire. After I determined it was safe I proceeded to the gate and let the passengers off. I wrote up the indications as well as an overweight landing. We flew the plane back to [a different station] and the same thing happened but only briefly. I wrote it up [again]. Maintenance changed a module in the detection system [after the first occurrence] and I don't know what they did to it [after the second occurrence]. Suggestions for this type of emergency; the checklist was WAY too long. For fire close to departing airport I would like to see a quick reference guide for runway distance and V speeds instead of having to do math on an already heavy workload.
An EMB-145 Captain reported experiencing a fire warning on #1 engine. They ran the procedure; shut down the engine; declared an emergency; and returned to departure airport where a module in the detection system was changed. Same problem occurred on the next leg.